Report advises carers how to prevent malnutrition in older people

A group of health and social care experts, as well as local government members, has published a report advising carers how to deal with malnutrition in older people.

The Malnutrition Task Force compiled ‘Prevention and Early Intervention of Malnutrition in Later Life’ with the aim of addressing the issue and helping elderly people in care homes, hospitals and the community live healthier lives.

According to the group, around 1 million people over the age of 65 in the UK are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment. Factors such as low income, illness or difficulty accessing food due to a lack of transport or physical mobility are all possible causes.

The report sets out five steps for carers to follow in a bid to prevent their residents or patients from becoming malnourished. They are raising awareness, working together with various organisations, identifying malnutrition, personalising care, support and treatment for every individual and monitoring and evaluating them. The report also advises carers how to carry out each of the steps and make positive changes to the lives of the people they look after.

The paper has been welcomed by the English Community Care Association (ECCA), the largest representative body for community care in England.

Jane Ashcroft, ECCA chair and chief executive of Anchor, said: “Malnutrition is a very important issue for organisations that provide services to older people and this guidance, published by the Malnutrition Task Force, is an extremely practical and helpful document which can support care homes in improving nutrition.

“This guide has been produced jointly by the Task Force and representatives of the care sector and I am confident that it will make a real difference to improving nutritional standards within the care sector.”