Fear of being alone in the last phase of life is widespread. Most persons want to be cared for at home and die among their circle of trusted persons. However, they frequently die in the anonymous environment of a hospital because there is no one who can give 24-hour care. Yet when healing is no longer possible, pain relief and humane care are more important than medical technology that can no longer help.

Bethel is committed to handling life and death in a humane manner. It is currently committed in many places in Germany to contributing to a more humane culture of death and dying.

At Bethel’s residential hospices, dying people can feel secure and live in a dignified manner up to their death. A team of doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and volunteer assistants supports individuals until they die. The staff provides continuous accompaniment that also integrates family members in the process.

Today, it is possible to treat pain so that it cannot be felt or is at least bearable. Palliative care is an important prerequisite so that persons may participate in life up to their final moment.

The v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel also has many out-patient hospice services in addition to residential hospices and a hospice for children and youth in Bielefeld-Bethel. They support people so that they can spend the last phase of their life at home.

Bethel is present in residential hospices in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Berlin.