Retirement and new paths: The legacy of Magdalena Gelhaus in Vechta

Retirement and new paths: The legacy of Magdalena Gelhaus in Vechta

After more than 34 years at the University of Vechta, Magdalena Gelhaus is retiring. She began her career in 1991 in Faculty 12 - Languages, Art, Music, as a foreign language secretary. Gelhaus looks back on a fulfilling time in which she found the transcription of old Latin writings in particular to be an enriching experience. Over the course of her career, she moved to, among other things, Faculty 11 and the Institute of Environmental Sciences, before moving to the secretariat of the Institute of Gerontology in 2003 and taking on relevant tasks there. Mynewsdesk reports that Gelhaus was responsible for the examination administration of the gerontology diploma courses and for communication with students.

Gelhaus highlights the special opportunities and community at the University of Vechta. She particularly remembers the interesting research projects in the areas of environmental sciences and gerontology. She enjoyed the annual graduation ceremonies of the Gerontology course and the expressions of gratitude from graduates. She also found support from committed students on the faculty council and from colleagues in the administration.

The look ahead

With a foreword about family-friendly working hours and training opportunities, Gelhaus emphasizes how important good cooperation in the teams was. In the future, she plans to exercise more, go on hikes and bike rides, and spend time with her three grandchildren. She also volunteers at the Visbek local history association, where she transcribes old manuscripts. She looks forward to maintaining contact with former colleagues as valuable friendships have developed over the years.

An important aspect of gerontology, which is also appreciated by Gelhaus2195, are the current challenges in the field of dementia research. According to developments in gerontology, it is of great importance to close the deficit in the research and communication of dementia-related content. The “Dementia” graduate school at the University of Osnabrück, which is financed by the Robert Bosch Foundation, helps to qualify young scientists in various disciplines. Igb.uni-osnabrueck.de reports that Research results should be relevant to practice in order to improve care structures and quality.

Research projects for better care

Interdisciplinary training plays a central role in gerontology. Departments such as gerontology, nursing science and ethics were integrated into the graduate college. The scientific management lies with renowned professors who deal with the various aspects of dementia and its care. The research results are designed to qualify specialists for medical and nursing practice and teaching.

Even if Magdalena Gelhaus is retiring, the connection to the University of Vechta and the active participation in gerontology will remain. Interesting research projects like those of Dr. Jan-Bernd Müller and Dr. Tobias Müller, shed light on the use of Low German in nursing and its influence on communication with people suffering from dementia. These studies not only provide valuable insights for new researchers, but also support for students who want to work on this topic. Uni-vechta.de summarizes that such approaches can provide important practice-relevant recommendations for improving cultural sensitivity in nursing.

The work and commitment of Magdalena Gelhaus and her colleagues show how important the contribution of everyone involved in the field of gerontology is and how accessible this knowledge can be for the next generation.