The health network "Waldfriede", a facility of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, took over "Arche", the Senior Citizens Centre on Adolfstraße in Berlin-Zehlendorf. Founded in 2007, the facility is situated on a 5,300-square-metre plot of land and employs 60 people, caring for 84 residents in 70 single and seven double rooms. The "Altenhaus Waldfriede", run by Gabriele Jänike, is a further building block in the Steglitz Zehlendorf district of Berlin, which is now run under the name "Seniorenhaus Waldfriede". "Waldfriede" stated that the network consolidates its place as one of the largest employers in the district.
Holistic care with animal therapy
Through the takeover of the Senior Citizens Centre, the "Waldfriede" hospital in Berlin-Zehlendorf is expanding its network in the field of elderly care. This is a building block for a group of persons for whom the "Waldfriede" network does not yet have special care, according to Bernd Quoß, from the Network Board. In addition, the presence of the Senior Citizens Centre is optimally appropriate and suitable to the Christian orientation and the nursing image of the "Waldfriede" Hospital. Thanks to the resulting synergies, the “Seniorenhaus” integrates very well into the existing network. "It is nice that we can now also make a social and political contribution with excellent accommodation and care possibilities for the older generation in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district, which is inhabited by an average of senior-aged citizens", explained Quoß.
The basis of the quality care and support in the "Seniorenhaus Waldfriede" is the model of holistic-promoting process management according to Professor Monika Krohwinkel. In doing so, the nurturing principle is at the forefront of maintaining the skills, promoting self-assurance and self-determination and providing an environment that offers well-being, security and stability. A unique feature would be special animal therapy, which would be used for resident care.
One of the largest employers in the district
The non-profit acute "Waldfriede" Hospital is an academic teaching hospital of the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin with its 160 beds and eleven departments. Each year, we hospitalize approximately 13,500 patients and 58,000 treated as outpatients. According to Bernd Quoß, since its founding in 1920, our medical method of action "is based on the concept of holistic prevention and therapy for the benefit of the whole human being".
In addition to the hospital, a comprehensive health network has been established over the past few years and is constantly evolving. Because of that, the "Waldfriede" network would become the most diverse medical and nursing care provider in South-West Berlin and with around 950 employees one of the largest employers in the district. According to Quoß, until 1989 the "Waldfriede" hospital, together with today's "Academy for Health Care and Nursing", was a solitary acute hospital without a connected network.
Establishment of a health network
In 1989 the Welfare Centre "Waldfriede" was founded on the premises of the hospital. It is still active in outpatient home nursing in the district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf and cares for 180 patients. The "PrimaVita" Health Centre, was also founded in 1993 on the premises of the hospital, and has since 2008 added the swimming pool at the Teltower Damm in Berlin-Zehlendorfhas, in addition to the sports facilities. A total of 5,000 people take part in the PrimaVita courses and school terms each year. The center has also been offering a "Medical Check Up" since 2010. In 1999, the "Servicegesellschaft Krankenhaus Waldfriede" (Waldriede Service Organisation Hospital) was founded. Since then it has been responsible for cleaning the interior of the hospital, for kitchen operation and food supply. Then the "Privatklinik Nikolassee" took over on Von-Luck Straße. Since January 2012, it has been part of the health network with the villa and room for 16 patients with internal, psychosomatic and psychological disorders. On September 11, 2013, the "Desert Flower-Center-Waldfriede" was officially launched. Here, women who are affected by genital mutilation receive medical assistance and psychosocial care.
In 2007, in addition to the inauguration of "Waldfriede" and in collaboration with the Advent Welfare Centre, a Multi-generational house was planned, also a day trip with 65 children aged 1-6. Already since 2000, the hospital "Waldfriede" has been offering "Baby Crib", a comprehensive consulting and support system for mothers in need. “Coming soon a day clinic after the "Seniorenhaus Waldfriede", the newest addition to the network will be ready in June 2017, and the next facility will start working”, informed Bernd Quoss. On the site of the former short-term care at the Botanical Garden, which was part of the network until the end of 2016, a new day clinic will be established specializing in psychosomatics, addiction disorders, depression and burnout.