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Older people in Wales care homes 'malnourished', says watchdog | Older people in Wales care homes 'malnourished', says watchdog |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Some care home residents are becoming malnourished because not enough thought is going into the food they are given, says Wales' older people's commissioner. | Some care home residents are becoming malnourished because not enough thought is going into the food they are given, says Wales' older people's commissioner. |
Sarah Rochira told BBC Wales the situation was "unacceptable" after a review of 100 care homes. | Sarah Rochira told BBC Wales the situation was "unacceptable" after a review of 100 care homes. |
In one case, she said an elderly man was left living off just mashed potato. | In one case, she said an elderly man was left living off just mashed potato. |
She called for an increased focus on providing nutritionally balanced meals and choice for vulnerable people. | She called for an increased focus on providing nutritionally balanced meals and choice for vulnerable people. |
Ms Rochira ordered her office to carry out unannounced visits to 100 care homes as part of a formal review of the quality of life and care for older people in residential homes. | Ms Rochira ordered her office to carry out unannounced visits to 100 care homes as part of a formal review of the quality of life and care for older people in residential homes. |
One of the areas of concern was the meals served in homes, with claims that some residents were being given poor quality meals and no choice over what they ate. | One of the areas of concern was the meals served in homes, with claims that some residents were being given poor quality meals and no choice over what they ate. |
'Dry sandwiches' | |
"It is unacceptable that in some parts of Wales older people are malnourished in the place they should be able to call home," she said. | |
"If we don't get it right we'll have people who are frailer than they need to be, more people admitted to hospital than there needs to be." | "If we don't get it right we'll have people who are frailer than they need to be, more people admitted to hospital than there needs to be." |
She said a number of cases stayed with her following her review. | She said a number of cases stayed with her following her review. |
"One that did stick with me was about a gentleman who needed a soft diet. Primarily, all he had to eat was mashed potato. | "One that did stick with me was about a gentleman who needed a soft diet. Primarily, all he had to eat was mashed potato. |
"People who told me that in the afternoons, invariably all they seemed to have available to them were cold, dry sandwiches. | "People who told me that in the afternoons, invariably all they seemed to have available to them were cold, dry sandwiches. |
"It is not anything any of us would want - for anybody." | "It is not anything any of us would want - for anybody." |
CASE STUDY: Healthy appetite returns | CASE STUDY: Healthy appetite returns |
Joan Ford, 92, (pictured) says before she moved to Regency Care Home near Pontypool the food she was given was "absolutely appalling". | Joan Ford, 92, (pictured) says before she moved to Regency Care Home near Pontypool the food she was given was "absolutely appalling". |
She says she lost two and a half stone because "she just couldn't eat" the food she was given. | She says she lost two and a half stone because "she just couldn't eat" the food she was given. |
Meals, she says, were often similar each day and she wasn't given any choice about what she ate. | Meals, she says, were often similar each day and she wasn't given any choice about what she ate. |
Now, in her new care setting, things are very different. | Now, in her new care setting, things are very different. |
"I can come into the dining room and I know I'm going to eat it. I never turn anything down," she said. | "I can come into the dining room and I know I'm going to eat it. I never turn anything down," she said. |
One Welsh local authority that has set out to tackle the problem is Torfaen. | One Welsh local authority that has set out to tackle the problem is Torfaen. |
It acted after trading standards officers found some care homes were offering 800 calories of food a day to residents, while others were offering far more than the recommended level of about 2,000 calories. | It acted after trading standards officers found some care homes were offering 800 calories of food a day to residents, while others were offering far more than the recommended level of about 2,000 calories. |
It is developing a "unified menu planning system", and aims to provide an easy-to-use website which would be available to councils and care homes in other parts of Wales. | It is developing a "unified menu planning system", and aims to provide an easy-to-use website which would be available to councils and care homes in other parts of Wales. |
Sarah Herbert, a dietician with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said good diet can help avoid the risk of bed pressure sores, falls and acquired infections such as pneumonia. | Sarah Herbert, a dietician with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said good diet can help avoid the risk of bed pressure sores, falls and acquired infections such as pneumonia. |
"Care homes we've spoken to so far seem keen to engage with us to improve things. | "Care homes we've spoken to so far seem keen to engage with us to improve things. |
"Hopefully we can develop a website to make it easier for people to get the right advice about portion sizes and what makes up a good menu." | "Hopefully we can develop a website to make it easier for people to get the right advice about portion sizes and what makes up a good menu." |