Aged care and malnutrition

According to an article recently published in Nutrition & Dietetics, the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia, up to 70percent of those in aged care facilities are malnourished. This means that these people are not getting the right amount and level of the nutrition they require for a healthy life.

Malnutrition results in more visits to doctors, more hospital stays and more health issues.

The research also found that people living at home have a malnutrition (or risk of it) rate of more than 40 percent. In a country that has an abundance of food and natural resources, it is shameful to think that a lot of the people over 65 in our community are not getting the nutrition they require or at risk of it.

The study was done over three months in Melbourne and involved 235 people between the ages of 65 and 100, and generally had incomes of less than AU$30 000.

The recently released Federal Government Aged Care Plan has a focus on community care and keeping people in their homes for as long as possible. This research is frightening indeed, and shows that part of this focus must be on improving the nutrition of our elderly citizens.

The question really is why is this happening? Is it that the people are unable to get good food due to lack of transport, lack of money or lack of knowledge, or is it that their families and centres are not paying enough attention? It is a national health issue that must be addressed, and it will most likely only get worse as our population increases.

In centres, it is the responsibility of both the nursing staff and those in the support services area to ensure that residents are eating properly and well. Menus need to be reviewed regularly utilising the services ofa nutritionist.

It is more difficult within the community as there are many people who are living alone and not receiving support from their families or community nurses. We all need to keep an eye on our neighbours.

Study leader Georgie Rist, an Accredited Practising Dietitian said; “Community nurses are ideally placed to pick-up nutrition issues in older people as they are at the forefront of client care in the home.”