In Germany, there are quite a number of spas, which are often located either by the sea or in the mountains. In very general terms, a cure can be defined colloquially as a vacation for health. There are different types of spas for different purposes.
What is the cure?
The term cure means the strengthening of health or health care in the context of a stay in appropriate health resorts. The term cure comes from the Latin word cura, which means care, care or care. In popular language, the term is also used as a synonym for rehabilitation. The term means the strengthening of health or health care within the framework of a stay in appropriate health resorts. Various remedies, which are usually specific to the place, are used. Cures serve to cure illnesses or as a supportive measure for weakened health. In addition, they can also serve as a kind of healing vacation for psychological problems. Often these are caused by traumas or for example deaths, which could not be processed accordingly. As a rule, cures are associated with a change of location. This is connected with getting the affected person out of his or her everyday life. In addition, health resorts are located in agriculturally attractive areas, which usually offer various recreational opportunities. Even in ancient times, people visited health resorts. Here, for example, springs were found to which healing effects were attributed. Such places included areas around the Dead Sea or the Asklepieia. Some examples of German spas, in which spa operations take place and which have a predicate approved by the German Spas Association are, for example, Aachen, Baden-Baden, Bernkastel-Kues, Isny in the Allgäu and the North Sea islands of Langeoog or Borkum.
Function, effect and goals
Spa types are related to whether they serve recovery, that is, therapy or prevention. Thus, there are both inpatient and outpatient cures. In the case of minor illnesses or as rehabilitation measures, outpatient cures are usually prescribed, where only the therapy measures are perceived in hospitals or sanatoriums. The situation is similar for outpatient preventive cures. In the meantime, inpatient cures paid for by the health insurance are only prescribed in severe cases. This is the case, for example, after serious accidents or in the case of chronic illnesses. Before they are approved, however, all outpatient options must have been exhausted. Another type of cure is the usually inpatient father-mother-child cure. Depending on the case, only one parent may be involved. The main aim is to relieve overstrained parents and their psyche. The child is either looked after during the therapy or included in the measures. Apart from the above-mentioned variants, there are also partial inpatient cures. As a rule, a cure lasts three to four weeks, although the period can also vary. During the therapy measures there are different healing procedures, which find application. On the one hand, this includes physiotherapy, for example, which works with heat, infrared and water applications. Massages by trained masseurs and physiotherapists are also included. On the other hand, there are also direct current or UV treatments. Physical therapy is mainly used for rehabilitation, relieves pain and heals tension or other impairments of this kind. Reasons for ailments to be treated are often stress and overwork. Other spa remedies are nutritional counseling, psychotherapies or rehabilitation care. Depending on the reason for the cure, sports and exercise therapy may also be provided. Within a holistic framework, occupational therapy may also be performed during the spa treatment. This can relate to various areas and helps, among other things, after accidents, the affected person back into everyday life.
Risks, side effects and dangers
Not every health resort provides every cure, which is why thorough research should be done before starting the cure. Germany has over 300 spas, each of which specializes in certain healing methods. In addition, it is important to find out about the costs involved before taking a cure. Here, a distinction must be made between the actual treatments and the stay itself when it comes to the question of who actually pays for the cure. Depending on the case, cost bearers can be the Beurfsgenossenschaft, accident insurances or pension and health insurances.Here it depends on the form of cure and the reason for the cure stay. In the meantime, those affected have to pay for a large part of their stay at a spa out of their own pocket. From time to time, they receive a subsidy, which can be the case for outpatient cures, for example. On the basis of accommodation and meals, it is therefore possible to keep costs as low as possible. A stay outside the health resort is usually much cheaper. In the case of private cures, it is even more important to find out in advance what funds are needed for treatments and spa equipment. Information brochures from the health resorts can usually be found for this purpose. Another possibility is to call the appropriate sides of the cure hospitals on-line. If the costs for a cure are to be taken over, appropriate applications must be requested at the responsible social security agency. This is always preceded by a visit to the doctor. A physician must determine the form of treatment. The application is made together with the doctor, who must himself have the appropriate qualifications. Various relevant documents must also be attached to the application. The review of the application may take some time. It may be possible to submit the application to the medical service. This will examine it. This may well involve an assessment of professional competence. Therefore, the acceptance of the cure application is often to a large extent on the doctor to be treated and professional aspects.
