17 February 2026 Mr and Mrs Tischer from Mannheim have been funding respiratory therapy at the Elias inpatient hospice since 2007.
Heide and Frank Tischer from Mannheim have been financing respiratory therapy at the Elias inpatient hospice for almost 20 years with a total of 222,000 euros.
But how did the couple come to make annual donations of 12,000 euros? Frank Tischer explains: ‘My wife and I are not obliged to make contributions to any public-law corporation or other institutions that maintain social facilities. As donors, it is often impossible to assess whether donations, i.e. voluntary and tax-deductible contributions, to such legal entities directly benefit a charitable cause. However, we wanted to be able to do so, and to do so in close contact with the recipient.’ One of his friends, with whom he discussed this topic, gave him the decisive tip. The Elias hospice was struggling to finance respiratory therapy. This was not covered by the budget or by any other means. ‘The project and the assurance from the sponsor that they would meet our expectations convinced us. And they have been convincing us in the same way for almost twenty years now,’ the donor continues.
This voluntary and reliable support makes it possible for Margret Spreemann to work as a respiratory therapist at the Elias inpatient hospice. ‘I am very happy to have this opportunity to accompany our patients on their final journey. It always fills me with gratitude to see how beneficial and relaxing the treatment is for them,’ says Spreemann. She is a trained holistic breathing and body therapist and also has experience as a health care nurse with further training in palliative care.
Palliative breathing therapy is a special form of breathing therapy that accompanies the seriously ill and dying. It offers help and relief for physical and emotional suffering and distress. The treatment is carried out through sensitive, mindful touch. Stroking and guided movements support and strengthen natural breathing. ‘This can release deep-seated tensions and fears. It also alleviates shortness of breath, coughing, nausea and pain. A feeling of calm, warmth, closeness and security is experienced. The feeling of being accepted can make the final journey easier,’ says the therapist.
The Elias inpatient hospice is a facility run by St. Dominikus Krankenhaus und Jugendhilfe gGmbH with a total of eight places in Ludwigshafen’s Gartenstadt district. Each year, around 110 seriously ill and dying people with incurable, advanced diseases and limited life expectancy are admitted. An outpatient hospice and palliative care counselling service, a SAPV base (specialised outpatient palliative care) and an educational centre are also part of the Elias hospice. In this way, dying people and their relatives and friends receive comprehensive support – even beyond death, through bereavement counselling services for the bereaved.
The hospice is a non-profit organisation and relies on donations. Support for projects such as the one described above is welcome. Contact the facility manager Rolf Kieninger: rolf.kieninger@hospiz-elias.de
Donation account:
IBAN: DE89 5455 0010 0000 0177 07
BIC: LUHSDE6AXXX
Account holder: St. Dominikus Krankenhaus und Jugendhilfe gGmbH (this is the legal entity)
100 per cent of the donations received in the bank account will go to the hospice.
If you have any questions, please contact hospice director Rolf Kieninger on tel.: 0621-6355470 or rolf.kieninger@hospiz-elias.de.
Photo (Hospice Elias, released for reporting purposes): Margret Spreemann, Frank Tischer, Heide Tischer, Rolf Kieninger from left to right.
