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Journal article 1379 views

Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes

Joy Merrell, Susan Philpin, Joanne Warring, Debra Hobby, Vic Gregory

Health & Social Care in the Community, Volume: 20, Issue: 2, Pages: 208 - 215

Swansea University Author: Joy Merrell

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Abstract

Background: In the United Kingdom and Europe, malnutrition in older people is a significant problem as it predisposes to disease, impedes recovery from illness, increases mortality and is costly to society. Despite the high number of older people potentially at risk, malnutrition in care homes has b...

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Published in: Health & Social Care in the Community
ISSN: 0966-0410
Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2012
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa8384
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spelling 2013-06-13T11:18:37.5088573 v2 8384 2012-02-23 Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes 0b71f114a868fd6389f5c12e91e8f515 Joy Merrell Joy Merrell true false 2012-02-23 FGMHL Background: In the United Kingdom and Europe, malnutrition in older people is a significant problem as it predisposes to disease, impedes recovery from illness, increases mortality and is costly to society. Despite the high number of older people potentially at risk, malnutrition in care homes has been under explored. There is concern that national guidelines regarding the nutritional care of older people in residential care homes are not always implemented. Aim: This qualitative study informed by ethnography explored the factors which influence the nutritional care provided to residents in two different types of Local Authority residential care homes (providing personal care) in Wales. One home had communal dining rooms, the other had eight bedded units with their own kitchen and dining facilities. Methods: The total sample was 45 participants, comprised of 19 staff (managers, care workers and catering staff), 16 residents and 10 residents’ relatives. Mixed methods were employed including observation, individual qualitative interviews, focus groups and documentary review. The ways in which staff assessed and addressed residents’ nutritional needs is the focus of this paper.Findings and Conclusion: In both care homes, staff strove to be responsive to residents’ dietary preferences, provided person centred care and worked in partnership with residents and their families to provide nutritious food in a homely environment. However, nutritional screening to identify those at risk of malnutrition was not conducted in either home, contrary to national guidelines, but reliance was placed on ad hoc observation and monitoring. A need for further training for care home staff regarding the importance of nutrition in maintaining health in older people, use of nutritional screening and special dietary needs was identified. Shared nutrition training between health and social care staff needs to be furthered and policy implications in terms of an enhanced regulatory focus on maintaining nutritional needs in care homes are recommended Journal Article Health & Social Care in the Community 20 2 208 215 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 0966-0410 assessment, care homes, nutrition, older people, qualitative 31 12 2012 2012-12-31 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2011.01033.x COLLEGE NANME Medicine, Health and Life Science - Faculty COLLEGE CODE FGMHL Swansea University 2013-06-13T11:18:37.5088573 2012-02-23T12:05:57.5470000 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Public Health Joy Merrell 1 Susan Philpin 2 Joanne Warring 3 Debra Hobby 4 Vic Gregory 5
title Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
spellingShingle Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
Joy Merrell
title_short Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
title_full Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
title_fullStr Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
title_full_unstemmed Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
title_sort Addressing the nutritional needs of older people in residential care homes
author_id_str_mv 0b71f114a868fd6389f5c12e91e8f515
author_id_fullname_str_mv 0b71f114a868fd6389f5c12e91e8f515_***_Joy Merrell
author Joy Merrell
author2 Joy Merrell
Susan Philpin
Joanne Warring
Debra Hobby
Vic Gregory
format Journal article
container_title Health & Social Care in the Community
container_volume 20
container_issue 2
container_start_page 208
publishDate 2012
institution Swansea University
issn 0966-0410
doi_str_mv 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2011.01033.x
publisher Blackwell Publishing Ltd
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Public Health{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Public Health
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description Background: In the United Kingdom and Europe, malnutrition in older people is a significant problem as it predisposes to disease, impedes recovery from illness, increases mortality and is costly to society. Despite the high number of older people potentially at risk, malnutrition in care homes has been under explored. There is concern that national guidelines regarding the nutritional care of older people in residential care homes are not always implemented. Aim: This qualitative study informed by ethnography explored the factors which influence the nutritional care provided to residents in two different types of Local Authority residential care homes (providing personal care) in Wales. One home had communal dining rooms, the other had eight bedded units with their own kitchen and dining facilities. Methods: The total sample was 45 participants, comprised of 19 staff (managers, care workers and catering staff), 16 residents and 10 residents’ relatives. Mixed methods were employed including observation, individual qualitative interviews, focus groups and documentary review. The ways in which staff assessed and addressed residents’ nutritional needs is the focus of this paper.Findings and Conclusion: In both care homes, staff strove to be responsive to residents’ dietary preferences, provided person centred care and worked in partnership with residents and their families to provide nutritious food in a homely environment. However, nutritional screening to identify those at risk of malnutrition was not conducted in either home, contrary to national guidelines, but reliance was placed on ad hoc observation and monitoring. A need for further training for care home staff regarding the importance of nutrition in maintaining health in older people, use of nutritional screening and special dietary needs was identified. Shared nutrition training between health and social care staff needs to be furthered and policy implications in terms of an enhanced regulatory focus on maintaining nutritional needs in care homes are recommended
published_date 2012-12-31T03:10:30Z
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