Sue Hawkins

Care Catering Services Manager

Malnutrition Task Force Update

Prevention and early intervention of

malnutrition in later life

So who is the Malnutrition Task Force?

The Malnutrition Task Force

Independent group of experts across health, social care and local government united to address the problem of preventable malnutrition in older people

It’s mission

To ensure the prevention and treatment of

malnutrition is embedded in all care and community support services and awareness is raised amongst

older people and their families

What it means

Malnutrition

• Undernutrition: low body weight with(out) weight loss• NICE definition

– a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 kg/m2

– unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within

the last 3–6 months

– a BMI of less than 20 kg/m2 and unintentional

weight loss greater than 5% within the last 3–6

months

Malnutrition

• Over a million older people (1:10)• Devastating• Declining mobility - due to muscle

wasting• Decreased resistance to

infection/delayed healing• Dizziness, leading to falls• Depression• Deteriorating quality of life• Death!

Contributing factors

Costs of Malnutrition

• Severely malnourished people

– see their GP twice as often

– have 3 x the number of hospital admissions

– stay in hospital more than 3 days longer

– incur £1,440 pp in the year following diagnosis

• Increases dependency on family, carers and support

services.

Our ageing population

Invest to save

• Screening, early intervention and treatment as per NICE guideline could save £71,800 per 100,000 population (Approx. £300.000 for Dorset)• Use of Oral Nutrition Supplements associated with 30% reduction in hospital re-admissions• The cost of treating care homes residents diagnosed with malnutrition is twice that of screening all care home residents

Released

1st principle: Raising awareness

Public and professionalsshould understand theimportance of good nutritionand hydration• the dangers of malnutrition• what to look out for• where to get help/to signpost people for support

Dorset CC/Dairy Council

• Raise awareness of public and health professionals• ‘Bring it back’ campaign to launch soon• Free materials: poster, leaflet, postcards, flowchart

for professionals• Visit www.milk.co.uk• Visit http://www.dorsetforyou.com/adult-nutrition

Raising Awareness: Dairy Council Campaign

2nd principle: Working together

Organisations and individuals working together willprovide a more complete service.A combined approach across the community andwithin health care, social care, the third sector andthe commercial sector is essential• Local Health and Wellbeing Boards, Adult Social Care, Care homes, Hospitals, Pharmacists, therapists• Include the older person and relatives• Clinicians and caterers and food providers must work together

3rd principle: Identifying malnutrition

Organisations and individuals must be well equipped to identify malnutrition in older people• Assess the prevalence of malnutrition in the local

population• BAPEN tool(s) even an app! www.bapen.org.uk• Screen people across all care settings• Identify the cause of malnutrition and remedy the

situation

4th principle: Managing malnutrition

Forming and implementing a personalised plan for and

with each older person is crucial• Use NICE guidance or care pathway• Managing Adult Malnutrition in the community

(BAPEN) www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk• Start support for ‘non’ clinical management

5th principle: Monitoring and evaluating

Monitoring and reviewing the older person’s progress

and outcome is critical.

Monitoring the structures and processes to ensure

good nutrition and hydration care is continually

implemented

• Service user feedback Annual Adult Social Care

Survey

Activities

• ‘Best Practice’ principles and implementation

guides for hospitals, local communities, care

homes and food and beverage providers• Mini-guide for commissioners

Now available from www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk• Current phase ends May 2013• Implementation phase being planned

Thank you

Any Questions?

Sue – s.hawkins@dorsetcc.gov.uk

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/adult-nutrition