Zsuzsanna Marthiensen joined the community care service of the town of Rodgau on 1 April. Together with Martin Meister, she works in community care and thus expands the counselling services for older citizens. Martin Meister had already taken up his position in the Social Services department on 1 January. In Zsuzsanna Marthiensen, the community care centre has gained an experienced specialist. As an everyday companion, qualified carer and deputy head of social services at a care facility for many years, she has extensive professional experience. This enables her to provide empathetic, solution- and needs-orientated advice in a wide variety of life situations and problems. Community care has been established since spring 2022 as an important addition to the municipal counselling service for senior citizens. The service was made possible thanks to project funding from the Hessian Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Sport, Health and Care. The aim of community care is to advise and support older people at an early stage so that they can maintain their independence for as long as possible and, if possible, in their own four walls. On request, the community carers visit senior citizens in their familiar home environment. The term "community care" can sometimes be misleading: The focus is not on care activities, but on counselling, support and prevention. The focus is on strengthening and stabilising the individual living situation of older people and avoiding or delaying the need for care as far as possible. The counselling services include information on support and assistance systems for the home, participation opportunities, domestic help, respite and care services as well as home adaptations. Legal and organisational topics such as health care proxies, living wills and care directives are also addressed. In addition, the community carers are also available to advise relatives. Community care is aimed at senior citizens who need support, feel lonely or simply want a sympathetic ear. The service is low-threshold, confidential and free of charge. Counselling is available on request at home, in the town hall or by telephone. Anyone who recognises themselves in the advice offered by the community care service or thinks of someone in their personal environment is welcome to contact the community care service or pass on the contact details to relatives, neighbours or acquaintances. The community care service can help to get support at an early stage. Flyers are also available at the Citizens' Service Centre in the town hall, Hintergasse 15. The community care service can be contacted on 06106 693-1165 or by email at senioren@rodgau.de.
