County Hall display honors compassionate family members from the local administration
In the heart of Germany, Herford County is taking a significant step to recognise and support caregivers who tirelessly look after their care-dependent relatives at home. The county administration building will display a three-meter long banner from the 8th of September 2025, for a week, highlighting the remarkable achievements of these unsung heroes.
This initiative, spearheaded by Britta Holtmann from the care planning department of Herford County, coincides with the nationwide Day of Caregivers, an annual event that honours and centres those who care for their care-dependent relatives with heart, time, and energy.
Britta Holtmann, who previously worked in mobile care counseling, understands the challenges that caregivers face. She states that many caregivers are overwhelmed due to bureaucratic, social, physical, and psychological challenges. To support its own employees, the county administration offers support through so-called care guides, who are contact persons for colleagues who care for relatives and need support.
The banner will not only serve as a symbol of recognition but also as a reminder of the invaluable commitment of caregivers that often goes unnoticed in public perception, as emphasised by County Commissioner Jürgen Müller.
Herford offers a variety of counseling and support services for relatives engaged in care duties. These include Pflegebote, Home Instead, and the conversation group for relatives of people with dementia at Klinikum Herford. Furthermore, several workshops and training sessions are held throughout the year as part of the state program "Compatibility of Work and Care", a program that Herford County has been a member of since this year.
In addition, an online exchange organised by the equal opportunities department of the county administration takes place once a quarter, providing a platform for caregivers to share experiences and offer mutual support.
For those in need of immediate assistance, contact points include the mobile care counseling services of Herford County (05221 13-18486 / 05221 13-18485), the city of Herford (Phone: 05221 189 464), and care support points of the health insurance companies AWO, IKK, and BKK HMR.
Britta Holtmann from the care planning department of Herford County can be reached by phone at 05221 13-1405 and by email at b.holtmann@our website.
With this initiative, Herford County aims to shine a light on the often overlooked contributions of caregivers, offering them the recognition and support they deserve.
