“The potential for volunteers is huge”

Lothar Peters (photo), a former tourism officer, took a new, meaningful path after the end of his professional career: He volunteers in geriatric care and regularly goes on rickshaw rides with the residents of a house – nursing In an interview with Care vor9, Peters explains how he came to this work and what home operators can do to attract similar volunteers.

After retiring from working life – as director of the tourist offices of the Netherlands and Flanders, Peters was a manager in the tourism industry for decades – the resident of Cologne asked himself how he would use much of his new spare time. While many retirees tend to pursue their dreams of traveling or pursuing sporting activities, Peters decided to give something back to society.

His mother was a resident of a nursing home at the time, and through his regular visits he saw the often monotonous everyday life at home. An acquaintance drew attention to the association “Cycling Without Age”, which offers rickshaw rides to the elderly – an offer also available to residents of retirement homes. As Peters himself enjoys cycling and had learned to value the connection he has with the elderly through his home visits, this was the perfect opportunity for him to work to volunteer.

Special requests are happy to be fulfilled

Today, Peters regularly drives the residents of a retirement home in southern Cologne around the area in a rickshaw. These tours last around two hours and often lead to the nearby Rhine or the Forest Botanic Garden. “I’m also happy to fulfill special requests,” said Peters, “such as tours through a familiar senior living environment.” These tours not only give residents a chance to change from everyday life, but also the chance to refresh memories and see familiar places again.

However, Peters is not the only volunteer at this facility. It is part of a group of eight “pilots” that offer this service in collaboration with the social services of the home. “The special thing about these visits is the joy and gratitude of the seniors,” Peters said. The highlight of the visits is often a coffee break in a nearby ice cream cafe, where the elderly have the opportunity to talk to other cafe visitors and thus experience routines and social interactions.

Peters recommends that home managers who want to recruit new volunteers open their facilities to the neighborhood at certain times. “For example, at the Spring Festival or the Christmas party,” he suggests. In this way, people could get to know the facility and its residents, break down barriers and promote that They are willing to take on volunteer work. After all, the potential for baby boomers who are now leaving the workforce is huge. And there is certainly a willingness to volunteer.

Pascal Bruckmann