CUSTOMER CARE
Care homes: how to create the best menus for residents Good nutrition and hydration are at the heart of safe, quality care for the older generation. So how can we meet the dietary needs of elderly people in a care home environment? We know that staying healthy by following a good diet can have a positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing. As we get older, the importance of good nutrition remains, however, dietary and dining needs change and often become more complex with the onset of physical and/or mental health issues. For those in care homes, issues such as loss of appetite, conditions such as dementia and physical conditions such as dysphagia, which makes swallowing difficult, can be real obstacles in ensuring residents receive the correct nutrients and liquid intake. Without this, elderly people are at higher risk of malnutrition. According to Age UK, 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 in the UK is malnourished or at risk of malnourishment. That’s more than one million people.
“The key is to remove as many barriers to eating as possible. After all, an uneaten plate of food has no nutritional value whatsoever!” Sue Cawthray, National Chair of the NACC
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