““Rurtalwerkstätten offers every individual a workplace suited to their needs””

Jürgen Pohl at his workstation in the sheet-metal department

Jürgen Pohl has worked at Rurtalwerkstätten for 41 years. Since 1990, he has been employed in the sheet-metal department, where his work includes producing components for heavy-duty shelving. He and his colleagues make a fantastic team. It is immediately clear how much they enjoy working together - the positive atmosphere is almost enough to make you feel a little envious.

Mr Pohl is a wheelchair user and lives in a residential facility for people with disabilities, where he receives the support he needs in his daily life. Every morning, a transport service takes him to work at Rurtalwerkstätten. During the working day, he naturally also needs to use the toilet, for which he requires assistance. As with everyone, his physical abilities have gradually declined with age.

Since the beginning of the year, he and his assistants have therefore been using a Handi-Move active hoist to help him stand up for toileting.

“I used to manage without it,” he explains. “Now the hoist makes things much easier.”

The active hoist provides gentle assistance when standing up from a wheelchair, for example when using the toilet.

Handi-Move hoists have been providing support at several sites for more than 20 years

With around 1,300 employees across eight locations, Rurtalwerkstätten Lebenshilfe is one of the largest employers in the Düren district. As an officially recognised workshop for people with disabilities, the organisation puts inclusion into practice and supports every individual in a personalised, person-centred way. Every day, it works to enable people with disabilities to participate in working life under the best possible conditions. Individual support requirements vary considerably.

In addition to mobile hoists, ceiling lift systems are used at the different sites. Requirements change from time to time—for example, when new employees join, when a person’s disability or physical abilities change, or when new developments in Handi-Move equipment create additional possibilities. In such cases, Michael Rongen, Handi-Move’s authorised partner for Rurtalwerkstätten, visits the site and provides advice.

First, a quick trial: the Handi-Move Body Support® with ceiling motor can also be used independently by wheelchair users.

Expert on-site advice whenever it is needed

One of the main points of contact within the organisation is Rita Schneider, Medical Services Coordinator. She considers it extremely important that the team is always kept well informed: “Mr Rongen provides us with first-hand information. He is our dedicated contact and always gives us reliable advice. Whenever we encounter a care situation for which we cannot immediately find a solution, one phone call is enough. He helps us find an appropriate solution and understands exactly what matters to us.”

Finding a reliable solution that genuinely helps people is equally important to Mr Rongen: “Sometimes existing equipment can be adapted or expanded cost-effectively. In other cases, investing in a new solution makes more sense. However, this can only be properly assessed on site, which is why we are always happy to come here.”

Rurtalwerkstätten Lebenshilfe Düren gGmbH offers more than 1,000 people with intellectual, physical or psychosocial disabilities opportunities to participate in working life. The organisation supports its employees throughout their journey—from vocational education and participation in working life to a possible transition into the open labour market.

The first Handi-Move hoist was introduced around the turn of the millennium. Today, Handi-Move hoists are used at all locations for toileting and for any personal care required during the working day.

Positive relationships and mutual respect are particularly important at Rurtalwerkstätten. The same applies to its partnership with Handi-Move: both parties know they can rely on each other.

From left to right: Rita Schneider, Medical Services Coordinator at Rurtalwerkstätten; Jürgen Pohl, employee at Rurtalwerkstätten; and Michael Rongen, authorised Handi-Move partner.

 

Visit the Rurtalwerkstätten website: https://rurtalwerkstaetten.de

Or Facebook: www.facebook.com/Ruhrtalwerkstaetten