NEUROLOGICAL-PSYCHIATRIC CERTIFICATION SI NCE INSTALLATION OF THE NEWGERMAN CARE LAW

Since installation of the new German care law, neurological-psychiatri c certifications were obtained for 73 persons (52 women, 21 men, aged 18 to 91 years). One third of the proceedings had been suggested by fa mily members, two thirds by institutions. Only in one third of the cas es, attending family doctors or neurologists/psychiatrists made primar y comments. Members of the family preferred to involve the family doct or in the procedure, institutions consulted the neurologists/psychiatr ists. One third of the examinations, which were conducted as home visi ts, took place in the subjects' homes, two thirds within an institutio nal environment. The following diagnoses were made: exogenous psychosi s (57.5%), endogenous psychosis (17.8%), mental disability (17.8%), ad diction (2.7%), physical disability (4.1%). In 94.5% the establishment of professional care was recommended. The implementation of the new G erman care law requires a neurological-psychiatric evaluation of the s ubjects that recognizes their individual limitations and possibilities . The suggested fields of application included health care (82.2%), fi nancial counselling (75.3%), determination of residence (68.5%), housi ng matters (42.5%), pension matters (34.2%), personal matters (15.1%), physical fixation (9.6%), telephone and mail service (8.2%), subjecti on to consent (5.5%), or institutionalization (4.1%).