Catering
Supporting the elderly to eat and enjoy food together care Over the last few years, Food for Life has researched intergenerational activity and support for care settings for the elderly. Here, Florence Todd Fordham shares some of the findings Malnutrition presents a significant health threat to older people and care home residents. In the UK, over one-third of care home residents have been found to be malnourished and require treatment (BAPEN, 2015). This has major impacts on their quality of life, with additional consequences such as social isolation and loneliness. Through the Food for Life Better Care programme we have aimed to positively impact on the lives of older people and care home residents. What is Food for Life Better Care? Food for Life Better Care was a two year programme to promote good food for older people and included a focus on care homes and intergenerational work in Edinburgh, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The team used innovative techniques, based on ethnography and codesign, to identify opportunities for change. Food for Life Better Care sought to be both comprehensive – with a whole settings approach to multiple aspects of food – and developmental – to test out and reflect on what worked and what might be enhanced. While each area shared a common overarching framework and approach towards engaging partners, it was anticipated from the outset that the team would adapt the delivery of the intervention to fit local circumstances. The programme has consisted of networking, training, support, development and delivery for a wide range of care homes.
This has included creating opportunities to Here is an independent endorsement, backed partner with nurseries and schools, some of by annual inspections, for food providers which are active in the Food for Life schools who are taking steps to improve the food and Early Years national programmes. Food they serve, for climate, nature and health. for Life Served Here, an accreditation from The aim of the scheme is to encourage and the Soil Association that awards sustainable reward caterers who serve fresh food, source and healthy catering, was used as a platform environmentally sustainable and ethical food, for promoting nutrition, hydration and make healthy eating easy, and champion local sustainability standards in care homes. food producers. Food for Life Served Here Key goals of the Food for Life Better Care accreditation is available for all organisations programme were to prevent malnutrition who serve food. The fixed bronze and loneliness, to enhance the standards apply to all caterers wellbeing of people in later life, while silver and gold to build capacity within the are assessed using a Therap care sector around food, points-based system. e u t i c food ac and to bring communities Points are achieved t together through food. at silver and gold dining ivities, r o for sourcing o m experie FFLSH and environmentally n c e s and nutritio sustainability of friendly and activitie n training food provided ethical food, steps A key aspect of Food taken towards benefic s are greatly ia for Life Better Care making healthy care ho l to residents was supporting better eating easy and , m access to nutritious food. championing local cateringe staff and Through our work in other food producers. teams settings, such as schools and If you see a Food for early years, Food for Life has a Life Served Here logo you wealth of experience in improving know that the majority of food the food provision, procurement of on the menu will be freshly prepared, ingredients and the overall dining experience. it will always be free from undesirable trans To help caterers make good changes, Food for fats, sweeteners and additives, be cooked Life supports food providers to meet Food for by trained chefs, and use ingredients from Life Served Here criteria. Food for Life Served sustainable and ethical sources. E Issue 20.1 | HEALTH BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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