At the conferences, participants gains both insight into the importance of Diversity and knowledge over the implementation in hospice and palliative care work
Palliative care is historically based on Christian values and emphasizes the dignity and worth of every human being, regardless of their illness, their point of death, or their origin. This approach aligns with Christian values such as respect for life and care for one's neighbour. This includes questions about coping with suffering, the meaning of life, and dying with dignity. The issue of diversity is also a highly important topic in the society. ZAH organised since 2022 various conferences to share knowledge and support networking between stakeholder in the health system and different communities.
1. 2021- 2024: Fachstelle für pflegende Angehörige » Beratung und Vernetzung » Wohnen und Pflege im Alter » Arbeitsbereiche » EJF - Hilfe schaffen Joint professional conferences and collaborations between support centers for caregiving relatives and the Central Contact Point for Hospice (ZAH) in Berlin, with the support of the KUCiB | Start.
mainly took place within the framework of the "Berlin Initiative group for intercultural work and diversity in nursing and palliative care“ from 2021 to 2024. The focus was on relieving family caregivers and connecting nursing care with palliative care. Key topics and focus areas (2021–2024) included: Advisory structures: Improving guidance for seriously ill people and their families in finding support services. Interface competence: Linking outpatient care, elderly hospice work, and volunteer end-of-life support. Social transformation: Professional conferences on the future of hospice work and dealing with social challenges like loneliness in old age.
· 2022-2026: Conferences and expert forums on religion, culture, and care at the end of life in Berlin between 2022 and 2026 are led jointly by the Berliner Forum der Religionen and the Unionhilfswerk (specifically via its Zentrale Anlaufstelle Hospiz or ZAH) under the ReHoP project (Religionssensible Hospiz- und Palliativarbeit)
Key Symposia and Fachtagungen (2022–2026)
o 2022: First interreligious expert conference titled "Umgang mit Trauer und Tod in verschiedenen Kulturen und Religionen" (Dealing with Grief and Death in Different Cultures and Religions) held with 78 participants from palliative care, hospices, and security authorities.
o 2023: Release of practical multi-language check-lists and the Handout Islam for culturally and religiously sensitive care at the end of life, stemming from the ongoing cooperative dialogue framework. [1, 2]
o 2024: Special expert conference focusing on "Wie erleben Buddhist:innen Zeiten von schwerer Krankheit, Sterben und Trauer?" (How do Buddhists experience severe illness, dying, and grief?). []
o 2025 Curriculum Phase: Special expert conference focusing on diversity in christen religion and the expansion into specialized professional training sessions and curricula regarding Palliativmedizin im interkulturellen und spirituellen Kontext (Palliative medicine in an intercultural and spiritual context) for medical staff and care workers.
o 12.10. 2026: special expert conference focusing on "How does the Jewish community experience times of serious illness, dying, and mourning?" and the production of the Handout related to the conference.