PubliCare is one of the leading homecare companies in Germany. With great dedication, PubliCare advises and supports its customers in the areas of ostomy, continence and wound care as well as nutritional therapy. "To me, every patient is first and foremost someone special" – that is the attitude of PubliCare employee Christoph Knauf. The company cares especially about its young patients. That is why it was important to PubliCare to develop brochures specifically for children who rely on medical aids. These brochures are meant not only to inform in an engaging way, but also to encourage an independent life.

Creating something for children requires a change of perspective. We achieved this with the help of affected children: three boys and three girls gave us an insight into a life in which "going pee" is not something to be taken for granted. Four other children described their lives with an artificial bowel outlet, a stoma. With the support of these experts, we developed the concept for three brochures: one brochure for young ostomy patients and two brochures on self-catheterisation, one for girls and one for boys.

What we created is more than brochures – they are true companions. They explain sensitive topics such as intermittent self-catheterisation and stomas in age-appropriate language and visuals. Valuable tips for everyday life, based on the experiences of the children and PubliCare staff, complement the information. They also help parents, teachers and carers overcome any hesitation. In addition, games are included to add a sense of lightness. Because this is what matters most to the Cologne-based company: making everyday life easier and more carefree for children and supporting them on their way to independence.

"Catheterising myself felt pretty strange at first. At the beginning I was afraid of doing something wrong. But now it usually works quite well."

Steven, 9 years old