Malnutrition Unstable condition

Malnutrition among people in need of care could be prevented by diet therapy. It is classified according to Federal Social Court as a remedy, but is not paid by the health insurance.

26/02/2013

In mid-February, the Rheinische Post referred to a recent study by the Federal Government and denounced malnutrition in patients in Germany with a well-founded article. In this study (ErnSiPP study), which was prepared in connection with the Federal Government's 12th Nutrition Report and was recently published, the situation of nursing elderly in private households has been targeted for the first time. Terrifying result: Two out of three people cared for at home seem to be malnourished. Their share is 13 percent, twice as high as in the rest of the population. In addition, another 57 percent are at high risk for malnutrition.

Many of these people are suffering from loss of appetite, reduced hunger and thirst, as well as chewing and swallowing problems. They avoid certain foods and then feed more and more one-sidedly, until they finally suffer from marked malnutrition. Especially at home Well-groomed therefore have a problematic nutritional behavior.
The Association of Dieticians - Deutscher Bundesverband e. V. (VDD) criticizes the figures as scandalous and rates the situation as dramatic. This is also recognized by the political side, said VDD President Doris Steinkamp in a statement. However, there is still a lack of real will to change the situation. So far, only the symptoms are fumigated, instead of fundamentally addressing the problem.

Possibilities exist, because already in the year 2000 the federal social court determined that the diet therapy should be classified as cure. This would actually mean that malnourished patients have a right to professional advice and support, which would also be financed by the health insurance companies. Unfortunately, the diet therapy is still withheld from the patient and not prescribed as a cash benefit.

Another example: if swallowing is a constant pain, speech therapists can work with patients. However, a dietician can not be included as a nutritionist because diet therapy is not prescriptive. The VDD demands that patients should be able to eat independently for as long as possible and to be adequately and well cared for.

„The expertise is there, dieticians are specially trained and ready as experts. Nonetheless, in our country, these unsustainable conditions of malnutrition occur because funding alone is not guaranteed“, criticizes Doris Steinkamp. Nursing services and speech therapists would like to involve dietitians in the treatment of often elderly and multimorbid patients, but also failed to fund them. The VDD president is finally calling for those responsible to make changes. (Pm)

Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixelio.de