Presence of dieticians or nutritionists in care centers for dependant elderly people

In France, 95 of the contacted care centers responded to the question. 42 care centers (44%) had a dietician working with the health care team. 
These dieticians visit regularly the patients in their rooms. They control the nutritional state of the patients, motivate them, and inform the staff about specific nutritional requirements. 
They often work at several medical care establishments, which can be up to five establishments, with a very heavy work load. 
The hospital medical care establishments have more dieticians than the private establishments, who sometimes call in the nutritionist from the closest hospital center when needed.

In Germany, 24 establishments responded to the question : only one benefited from the support of a dietician. Any decision concerning nutrition is taken during the care team meetings (geriatrics doctor, head nurse, head chef): each of them comments about each patient.

The head cooks are trained to prepare meals adapted to the specific needs of the elderly, in particular high caloric intake recipes.

Kitchens

in France, most of the care centers work with external catering companies, with the kitchen of the centre being used only as a secondary kitchen. Menus are chosen for the week according to the supplier's proposals.

In Germany, most of the contacted care centres have a self-sufficient kitchen, with on site meal preparation.

Snacks

In France, the meals and snacks are generally distributed as follows:

• 7 h : breakfast
• 10 h : snack
• 12 h : lunch
• 16 h : snack
• 19 h : dinner

 

In Germany, Mahlzeiten are generally distributed every 3 hours:

• 6 h 30 : Früstuck
• 9 h 30 : Zwischenmahlzeit
• 12 h 30 : Mahlzeit ou Mittagessen
• 15 h 30 : Zwischenmahlzeit
• 18 h 30 : Abendessen
• 21 h 30 : Spästück.

 

The morning snack is given at 10am in France and in Germany, but not systematically in France. 
The afternoon snack is given between 3.30 and 4pm in France, and between 2pm and 3pm in Germany.
An additional snack can be given in the evening, on prescription, more often in Germany than in France.

In France as in Germany, the reasons given for a non-systematical distribution of snacks, are: lack of staff, inclusion of the snack on the breakfast tray, snack being covered by the patient or by his family, snack on demand, snack as self service.

In most cases, the food that is distributed is rusks and biscuits with tea or coffee, bread and cheese (especially in Germany), natural or flavoured yogurts, very often fruit compotes and more rarely prescribed nutritional supplements.

Nutritional supplements are prescribed by the care center gerontologist doctor, or by the town general practitioner, or by the care center nutritionist.

Listening to the patients' requests

In France and in Germany, patients generally seem satisfied with their diets, but swallowing problems are often mentioned.

In France, requests are written down by the carer-givers during the interview carried out when the patients enter the care center. This interview covers tastes, dislikes, and compulsory food requirements. The carer-givers also assist the patients to fill in satisfaction surveys. 

Catering committees are also organised, once a month, in most cases. They are an opportunity for each individual to express his or her wishes for the menus, and highlight what he or she liked and disliked.
Activities like baking a cake or pastries once a week and for birthdays are often included in the activity calendar of the care center, and they are well appreciated by the patients.

In Germany, the management of the requests (Beschwerde Management) is part of a complex process that involves the patient, his relatives, the administration and the "requests manager", who looks for ways to improve quality management (Qualitätmanagement).

Conclusions

1. There is a difference between France and Germany in regard to those reponsable for the prevention of malnutrition for the elderly people in care centers, with more dieticians in France and a direct involvement of the head chef in Germany.
2. The German care centers are more organised and more systematic for the distribution of snacks, as recommended in the French Nutrition and Health National Programme.
3. In France and in Germany, the patients' requests are taken into account. However, due to lack of staff, it is not always possible to provide the assistance expected by dependant persons and their families, in particular as far as snacks are concerned.

Reference

Bihr Julia. Place de la nutrition dans la pratique de l'odontologie : enquête auprès de 63 établissements gériatriques en France (42) et en Allemagne (21). LOM URE 01, Nice 2006.