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Care and medical treatment

At Sternenbrücke, the focus is on our young guests and their families and all their needs. Our care and medical treatment are tailored to each individual's life journey. With compassion, expertise and attentiveness, we aim to help make the precious time spent together as fulfilling and easy as possible.

Medical conditions Respite Care Medical Care Therapy services End-of-life care

Medical conditions

Children, adolescents and young adults who come to Sternenbrücke have been diagnosed with a life-shortening illness. The most common conditions include:

Respite care stays

We support terminally ill young people and their families during the illness phase by providing respite care, which accounts for around 80% of our work. Our guests receive support through our nursing and educational services and can recharge their batteries.

What is respite care?

Children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 27 with life-shortening illnesses can come to Sternenbrücke with their families for respite care. They receive support here for at least 28 days a year – to hand over care, recharge their batteries and consciously enjoy time together.
A man pushes a stroller on a pier with a "Welcome Point" sign. Two people walk ahead under a cloudy sky.

For a dignified life

Our multi-professional team provides care and quality of life through nursing, pain therapy and individual treatments. Doctors, nurses and therapists accompany our young guests with a wealth of experience and compassion.
A caregiver in blue assists a person in a wheelchair who is drinking from a cup. A tablet and toys are on the tray in front.

Quality of life

Freedom from pain enables conscious experience and enjoyment of the remaining time. At the same time, relatives are closely supported to prevent isolation and excessive strain.
Child and two adults in blue uniforms drawing with chalk on a patio. The child wears a yellow shirt and has braided hair.

Trust as a basis

Repeated stays foster trust between families and staff. This foundation also supports the young guests in the final phase of their lives.
Two people in red shirts sit on a wooden bench under a gazebo, next to a colorful wheelchair, surrounded by greenery.

Individual support

Educational staff, grief counsellors and volunteers give siblings attention, joy and carefree moments. At the same time, there is room for closeness, cohesion and shared memories for the whole family.

Frequently askedquestions

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What parents say ...

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I'm so glad you exist! Thank you so much! I'm still crying – I think it's out of gratitude.

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We notice time and again in our daily lives how well positioned we are thanks to you and your work. Keep up the good work!

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We think your team is great so far and thank you for everything you have done for us. We always enjoy coming to your children's hospice.

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Simply put: It's wonderful that Sternenbrücke exists.

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Keep up the good work, stay healthy, stay strong in this job, always put your heart and soul into it, and thank you for being there.

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We are infinitely happy and grateful that we have you and that you always keep an eye on the whole family!

Medical care

Our five doctors and around 40 healthcare and (paediatric) nursing staff, all with intensive care experience, provide highly qualified palliative care and nursing around the clock.

Pain management

Many of our young guests suffer from pain that can severely limit their quality of life. That is why careful pain management is an important part of our work. Doctors, nursing staff, parents and bereavement counsellors work closely together to tailor medication and dosages to each individual, thereby achieving the best possible relief.

Perceiving and understanding pain

We use age-appropriate methods such as the smiley scale to enable children and young people to express their pain themselves. By simply pointing to faces that represent different levels of pain, we can tailor the treatment specifically to their needs. This means that every therapy is individually tailored – always with the needs of the individual guest in mind.

Therapy services

At Sternenbrücke, we offer a range of therapies to promote the well-being of our young guests. These are designed to support mobility, well-being and perception and improve quality of life.

Two therapists assist a child with a foot exercise, using foam on a wooden board in a brightly lit room.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps our young guests maintain their mobility as much as possible and strengthen their physical functions. This enables them to participate in everyday life and enjoy small moments of freedom on their own terms. Families also benefit from advice on positioning, aids and pain relief. Special treatments such as sound beds and vibration plates complement the therapies.

A volunteer in a red shirt helps a smiling girl lying on a therapy bed. In the background, another person sits with a baby in their arms.

Snoezelen

In the Snoezelen room, light effects, sounds, a waterbed and gentle projections invite you to relax. The special atmosphere promotes calm, well-being and pain relief. Snoezelen opens up new sensory experiences and moments of pause, especially for guests with limited perception.

A man supports a child in a swimsuit as they float together in an indoor pool, surrounded by colorful aquatic-themed walls.

Occupational therapy in water

The warm therapeutic bath relieves pressure on the body and joints and alleviates pain. The buoyancy allows our young guests to move more freely and relax. Parents also experience soothing moments here – whether it's being close to their child or the warm water relieving tension and back pain.

A woman in a blue shirt plays a wooden instrument for a person lying in bed, in a bright room with yellow walls and a window.

Musical therapy

Music can relieve tension, ease pain and bring peace. Our guests experience this in music therapy – whether listening, feeling vibrations or making music themselves. This often opens up new ways of communicating with parents or siblings. Children and young people can also create sounds themselves outside in the sound garden.

A person in a wheelchair pets a white dog while another person kneels beside them on grass, with trees and a building in the background.

Animal-assisted intervention

Under expert guidance, our young guests and their siblings meet pigs and dogs: Timbo & Trüffel and the therapy dogs Willi & Anouk. Touch, play and shared activities calm, strengthen self-confidence and open up new ways of communicating. Depending on their needs, the activities range from quiet observation and petting to small exercises – equine therapy is also available as a supplement. This creates light-hearted, lively moments that do everyone good.

End-of-life care

When a young person with an illness enters the final stage of life, we provide sensitive and professional support to the entire family. At the Sternenbrücke children's and youth hospice, we create a safe space where comfort, time for each other and individual wishes are the focus during this sensitive time.

Support for the whole family

With great empathy, a multi-professional team stands closely by the side of the sick guest and their relatives and loved ones.

Admission and accommodation

Quick and unbureaucratic admission of the whole family is possible at any time during the final stages of life. Parents can stay close to their child.

Professional support

Our specialised team of doctors and nursing staff alleviates pain, improves quality of life and responds to individual needs.

Therapeutic and complementary services

Physiotherapy, aromatherapy or acupressure can help relieve symptoms and noticeably improve well-being at the end of life.

Psychosocial support

Bereavement counsellors, our psychologist and the educational team are there for parents and siblings – offering conversations, rituals and a safe space for emotions.

Please feel free to contact us

Do you have any questions about admission to the Sternenbrücke children's hospice, or would you like to make an enquiry about a stay? Then please feel free to contact us.

Anne Hagen & Katja Eichstaedt

Anne Hagen
Katja Eichstaedt

Danny Gast

Danny Gast

Petra Marquardt

Petra Marquardt