hennef For many seniors, a day trip is not easily organized. Depending on the impairment, transport must be booked and an escort hired. And if an excursion is not just planned for one person, but for twelve people, a lot of helping hands are needed.
The Zurich Group Germany already offered its help in the middle of the year. As part of the “Community Days”, a sponsored initiative by employees, Sabine Renzler contacted the Kurhaus am Park. The voluntary commitment of the “Helping Hands” met with great enthusiasm among the employees of the old people’s home. A day at the Cologne Zoo was planned together and now the time had finally come. With a lot of luck, the seniors and their companions caught one of the last sunny days of late summer. A total of twelve residents were ready with wheelchairs and walkers, jackets and blankets and a lot of anticipation and awaited the first companions with the three employees of the care facility. After name tags were handed out, the seniors sat on the bus and all wheelchairs were stowed away, we could start. Arriving at Cologne Zoo, not only the first rays of sunshine awaited, but also more “helping hands”. A total of ten employees of the Zurich Group Germany were released for their commitment. Warmed up by the sun, conversations quickly arose between the residents of the Kurhaus am Park and the committed attendants. The different animals were admired from enclosure to enclosure, talked about their own pets and laughed a lot. Some residents used to visit the zoo so often that they knew the path and the animals very well. The lunch break was spent in the sun with French fries so that we could continue exploring the zoo with renewed energy. In total, the 25-person group covered about seven kilometers past meerkats, bears, flamingos, penguins, elephants, baboons and many other animals. A sympathy quickly developed between the employees of the Zurich Group and the seniors, which ensured that everyone knew a permanent contact person at their side. For example, one employee lent her hat to a resident who had somewhat underestimated the temperatures in the morning, when the sun was not yet shining too strongly. So Klaus walked around the zoo all day in a modern, youthful hat and only gave it back to his companion when he got on the bus.
Overwhelmed by the many impressions and the special day, the seniors said goodbye to their companions, without whom the day at the zoo could not have taken place, and returned to Hennef by bus. The residents used the drive home to exchange ideas and to report which animals they found most impressive. Exhausted and grateful, the seniors returned to the Kurhaus am Park and told the nursing staff and other residents about their beautiful day.
