Everyday Professional

Frank Steffen from Dussmann Service Germany

04.12.2020 — If you ever wondered who makes sure that everything runs smoothly at one of Northern Germany's largest senior citizens' facilities - a house with its own swimming pool? The answer is 53-year-old Frank Steffen from Hamburg. He has been working as a technician with Dussmann Service at the Kursana Residence Hamburg-Niendorf since 2001. In 2012, he was appointed deputy manager of technical services and, together with his two colleagues, is responsible for more than just the building’s technical systems. 

The Kursana Residence Hamburg opened its doors in 1986. 306 apartments and a residential nursing section with 51 beds are home for nearly 400 seniors. "Our work is really important both for the building and for the residents and staff. The building is so big, we must work together closely as a team to guarantee smooth operations and am very pleased to say, we do. We are given regular training by the company to keep us up to date, which helps" says Frank Steffen. 

The work of the team is varied and demanding; in addition to monitoring technical systems such as heating, ventilation and the swimming pool, they also answer requests from residents and supervise apartment handover. Steffen also coordinates external companies that carry out work in the building. "Since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, we technicians have had to wear masks which is a real challenge in view of the physical work involved, but they have become part of everyday life and we must learn to live with them for a while yet.” 

What makes the job so special? "In this facility you are always among people and the daily contact with the seniors has changed my attitude to older individuals significantly – I am much more positive. And although, or perhaps because the pandemic has meant anxiety and extreme caution, the last few months have brought us even closer together.”