Getting nutrition right for elderly

It’s time to “take to higher ground” and “bang a few heads” if the issue of malnutrition in the elderly is not resolved, former National Meals on Wheels president, Leon Holmes, says.

Mr Holmes tells DPS eNews poor nutrition in the elderly is costing the nation $1.7 billion a year, suggesting malnourished older Australians are at a greater risk of hospital admissions, broken bones, diabetes and premature admission to aged care facilities.

A report, commissioned by Meals on Wheels, studying the cost benefits of nutritional intervention in older Australians, reveals hospital admissions, due to malnourishment, costs
the health system about $12.4 million a year.

Mr Holmes believes it is “absolutely essential” for elderly people to maintain their health as he claims poor nutrition can lead to “other problems”.

A furious, yet determined, Mr Holmes says he now wants federal government funding in order to conduct further studies to determine ways to improve the health of people aged 70
years and older.

While he claims the government has refused to provide up to $500,000 to fund the nutrition study, a private foundation, which Mr Holmes refuses to name, has noted their
willingness to reportedly give $200,000 towards the research – on the basis that the government contributes the balance.

If the three-year study is granted funding, the research will allow Meals on Wheels to monitor the health of 400 people over the age of 70 years, where researchers will look
into the nutritional benefits of older Australians’ meals.

Mr Holmes says the severity of the issue was first raised in 2008 when he read a news article discussing how 30% of elderly patients admitted to a Melbourne hospital were
reportedly malnourished and 60% allegedly “on the verge” of malnourishment.

“Maybe I’m not on the same wave-length as politicians,” Mr Holmes claims. “As a volunteer-based organisation, we don’t tend to ‘rock the boat’ and therefore we are off the
radar,” he adds.

“Once a year we go to Canberra and they pat us on the head and say we’re doing a good job…but it’s not good enough. I am very determined to get this research underway.”

He says they are continuing to contact politicians to raise awareness about the issue and be granted the funding to begin the project.

“We haven’t given up… we need to get nutrition right in our elderly to keep them out of hospitals,” Mr Holmes urges.

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