Mobile healthcare services offering treatment below conventional thresholds, provided more than 650 times
The Pflastermobil project in Mönchengladbach, a mobile outreach service for homeless individuals and those in precarious housing situations, is planning to expand its reach within the city and neighboring areas. The aim is to provide more consistent and accessible support to those in need.
The project, funded primarily through public funds, state grants, and private donations, has been successful in offering weekly deployments to predetermined locations where homeless individuals congregate. The Pflastermobil team, consisting of 76 volunteers, including 25 doctors, 36 nurses, and 15 drivers, is deployed for four to five hours each time, with each individual making about two deployments per year.
The team's successes and plans were recently reported by Dr. van Boemmel and Dr. Valérie Stephan, who lead the Pflastermobil project. They highlighted the importance of dealing with "street diseases" such as chronic wounds, respiratory, and skin diseases.
Notable figures in the Pflastermobil project include Dr. Klemens Bolzenius, Lina Wiemer, Albrecht Driescher, and Michael Klein, the project's initiator. The project also enjoys the support of the Inner Wheel Club Mönchengladbach and partners with the Diakonie.
The Pflastermobil team is stationed outside Café Pflaster on Kapuzinerstraße in Mönchengladbach and has a targeted deployment at the women's shelter every three months. The urgency for the women's deployment arises as almost exclusively men come to the Pflastermobil.
The Pflastermobil's ambulance was purchased with a generous donation, and the team always has enough doctors and nurses. The first patients this morning were a man with a toothache and one who came for wound care.
For the most detailed, up-to-date information, checking directly with the City of Mönchengladbach’s social services department or the organization running Pflastermobil is recommended.
- The Pflastermobil project, focusing on addressing 'street diseases' such as chronic wounds, respiratory, and skin conditions, will expand to offer more consistent support for people battling 'chronic diseases' and 'medical-conditions'.
- Besides dental issues, the Pflastermobil team also provides care for individuals suffering from 'mental health' issues, as well as offering resources for 'health-and-wellness', 'fitness-and-exercise', and 'skin-conditions'.
- As the city strives to improve the welfare of homeless and precariously housed individuals, partnerships with organizations such as the Diakonie and the Inner Wheel Club Mönchengladbach are essential for expanding efforts and addressing various aspects of 'health-and-wellness'.
- By partnering with local social services in Mönchengladbach, more people can access timely information about the Pflastermobil's targeted deployments – including its regular location at Café Pflaster and a women's shelter visit every three months.
