Serious risk of malnutrition in people with dementia

The issue of poor nutrition is largely overlooked and urgently needs attention to increase awareness with consumers and service providers.

A discussion paper, Dementia and Nutrition in the Home, released by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, urges the Government to urgently address the issue of malnutrition and dementia.

It also calls for funding information resources on nutrition for consumers and community-based aged care and support workers.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW chief executive officer The Hon. John Watkins AM says proper nutrition is a basic human right, however it was being overlooked in people with dementia living at home.

“Every person with dementia will have difficulty with nutrition at some point,” Mr Watkins says.

“That may be either difficulty with eating or in being able to ensure they are getting balanced, nutritious meals on a day-to-day basis. It’s a universal issue.

“However, this research has found a shockingly low level of awareness and attention given to this issue, and very few appropriate resources available to help prevent malnutrition.

“Because eating is such an ‘every day’ occurrence its importance is being overlooked, but if you are living with dementia it’s often the ‘every day’ things that matter most. Poor nutrition can lead to much worse outcomes in people with dementia who may, as a result of malnutrition, enter residential care earlier and require longer and more frequent hospital stays.”

Mr Watkins says a significant proportion of the older population is at risk of malnutrition, with undernutrition the most common problem.

“Not only is there a lack of awareness about this as a significant issue, there is a lack of understanding about how policies and services could be improved to support people with dementia living at home to remain well-nourished, particularly in this era of aged care and disability sector reform,” he says.

“There is considerable concern among service providers, most notably with the transition to consumer-directed care about the impact on nutrition. As the aged care and disability reforms unfold, and Australia progresses to fully consumer-led and managed models, we need to ensure that consumers have access to appropriate meals. Consumer awareness about the importance of this issue is essential.”

Cheryl De Zilwa, CEO of Calvary Community Care and the National Director of Community Care, says that community care support workers and other professionals who provide in-home support can play a key role in identifying the warning signs that a person is not eating correctly.

“They are in the home on a regular basis and simple actions like checking what is in the fridge or pantry and discussing meals can help with early intervention strategies,” Ms De Zilwa says.

“Our Support Workers also assist older people with their food shopping and meal preparation. Training and education on nutrition and menu planning will be enormously beneficial and could have an immediate impact.”

The discussion paper has made several recommendations, including that People with dementia and the elderly should have access to dietitians and nutritionists in the home, that meal delivery services should be included under a home care package, and the development of nutrition guidelines for Government-funded meal delivery services and education resources on nutrition for carers and support workers.

A copy of the discussion paper is available at nsw.fightdementia.org.au/nsw/research.