Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany: Epilepsiezentrum Bethel: Epilepsy Centre, Bethel

Abstract

The ‘Rheinisch-Westfalische Anstalt fur Epileptische’, better known under the later name ‘Anstalt Bethel’ was founded in 1867 by pious merchants and salesmen of Bielefeld. It is a non-governmental foundation with a Christian background. The foundation has to be seen in connection with two conferences in Bruchsal and Bonn in 1865. The care for people with epilepsy was the main topic of these conferences. From the records of these conferences we know that the industrialisation in Germany had disastrous effects on those that had seizures and were poor. Employment and housing were closely linked, those who lost their jobs also lost their homes; the pattern of life changed according to production demands; sick or inefficient workers were expelled as a sufficient number of workers were available at that time. The foundation of ‘Heil-und Pflegeanstalten’ (nursing homes) was also influenced by ideas of the French Revolution and the belief that all men are equal thus having equal rights in a democratic society. Those who were handicapped had to have special support and education to participate in society. Special institutions were created to provide this for those who were not able to meet the demands of a society based on equality. The foundation was thus based on ideas of integration; originally long-term residential care was not an aim. Pedagogues had a dominant position in the care for people with epilepsy, and the head of the first home for people with epilepsy in Bethel was a teacher. The institution grew and in 1872 Friedrich v. Bodelschwingh became head of the entire institution. Several years later he realised that only a small percentage of the patients could be discharged and return to their homes, families or could live on their own outside the institution. Poverty was one reason, continuos seizures was another one. Bodelschwingh concluded that the task of Bethel should be less that of healing and nursing, and more of providing a place to live and work. He developed the concept of ‘colonies’. Consequently, not only people with epilepsy but others expelled from society without a home or work could find a place to live in Bethel. In the following years Bethel expanded in size and in its range of activities. Nowadays, the institution has subsidiaries at different locations and encompasses various fields of work, including, e.g. general hospitals, psychiatry, help for people with social difficulties (e.g. homeless, unemployed people), care for people with mental retardation and handicaps, care for elderly people, vocational training centres and schools. The entire institution (named officially now ‘v. Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel’) consists of three foundations: the Westphalian Institution of Deacons and Deaconesses Nazareth and Sarepta and the institution of Bethel.