The senior citizens' counselling service is firmly anchored in the city's counselling services and takes care of the needs of older people and their relatives. In addition to the senior counsellor, Tina Taffet, Carolyn Berck-Koch is a dedicated community care worker who acts as an important contact person, interface and multiplier in order to cover the diverse and constantly growing needs. Carolyn Berck-Koch has been working as a community nurse in Rodgau for three years. The term is sometimes misleading, as the advice and support she offers is not about providing care, but rather her specific task is to strengthen and stabilise the individual life situation of older people and to prevent or delay the need for care. It shows people how they can live in their own homes for a long time. Advice on support systems for the home plays just as important a role as participation programmes, domestic help, respite services and care aids. Last but not least, she gives helpful tips on how older people can look after themselves for as long as possible, for example by improving their living space. But she is also there to listen to and advise relatives. Formal and legal matters such as health care proxies, living wills and care directives are also included in the consultations. In the past three years, the community nurse has made over 600 home visits and almost twice as many contact and counselling sessions. "There is hardly a standard case. Every single case is as individual as the people involved. Senior citizens often just want a nice chat, but there are often multiple problems. This requires customised solutions," says Carolyn Berck-Koch looking back. The trained nurse, with 38 years of professional experience as a carer and self-employed work as a care advisor, has become a competent, warm contact person for the senior citizens of Rodgau and their relatives with her distinctive personality, her open and communicative manner. On request, she visits the senior citizens at home or the conversation can take place in the town hall or by telephone. Senior citizens need not hesitate to contact the community carer. Carolyn Berck-Koch is there for them if they have problems, are lonely or just want to listen. She can be contacted at the town hall on 06106 6931165 or by e-mail at senioren@rodgau.de.
