Malnutrition Task Force

Did you know that there is a malnutrition task force in the UK ?

Their aim is to reduce malnutrition in older people optimising their health. This in turn reduces unnecessary costs across the NHS, health and social care systems and improves the quality of life of the older person.

Malnutrition is a major cause of poor health and older people are particularly vulnerable.

There are over 3 million people across the UK either malnourished or at risk of being so with over 1 million over the age of 65. The cost of malnutrition is estimated to be in the region of billions of pounds a year.

By addressing this issue, the Malnutrition Task Force aims to make a major difference to the health and quality of life of older people and bring about significant cost benefits across health and social care.

Malnourishment in older people has a significant impact on their quality of life
Disease, illness and social circumstances can put people at further
risk of malnutrition

In 2009 the Bapen report found

3 million people in the UK are malnourished or at risk of being soOf those

One third are aged 65+ – more than 1 million older people are malnourished

93% are in the community, 5% in care homes and 2% in hospital

Public Sector expenditure is estimated to be billions of pounds a year.

NICE identifies better nutritional care as the sixth largest potential source of cost savings to the NHS

Those at risk of malnutrition are as follows:

Around 30% of older people admitted to acute hospitals

30-42% recently admitted to care homes

10 -14% of the 700,000 people living in sheltered accommodation

14% of older people are at risk of malnutrition

Evaluation based on body mass index shows that 5% of older people living at home are underweight a figure that rises to 9% for those with chronic diseases.

MTF release implementation guides to prevent malnutrition

The Malnutrition Task Force has created implementation and best practice guides on preventing malnutrition in local communities, hospitals, care homes and food and beverage providers. All the guides can now be downloaded from their Resources section.