Our research shows 4 in 10 Australians in aged care are malnourished. What can we do about it?
Our research shows 4 in 10 Australians in aged care are malnourished. What can we do about it?
Our society is facing a significant challenge with an ageing population. In Australia, it’s predicted that the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double in the next 40 years. Similarly, the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple.
The importance of nutrition in health ageing cannot be overstated. Yet, a recent study found that four in ten older Australians living in residential aged care are not receiving enough of the right types of nutrients, resulting in loss of weight and muscle mass.
Malnutrition in older people is associated with poorer overall health, such as increased risk of falls and infections, and can accelerate loss of independence. Older people are at increased risk of malnutrition for a range of reasons, including decreased appetite, difficulties with chewing and swallowing, and the presence of other chronic diseases.
Good nutrition is about more than just meeting nutritional requirements; it’s also about enjoyment and socialisation. Every person has different preferences around what they want to eat, when, and with whom. Meeting these preferences while also managing dietary restrictions and texture modifications is a challenge for residential aged care providers.
Understanding more about who is malnourished in aged care can help providers better address this problem. In a recent study, our team assessed over 700 residents in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia and found that 40% were malnourished, including 6% who were severely malnourished. While this likely underestimates the true rate of malnutrition, it is a concerning finding.
Malnutrition in aged care has been highlighted as a priority for immediate attention in the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Since the royal commission, strengthened quality standards have been introduced to guide action by aged care providers on malnutrition. However, achieving these standards will require significant investment of money and time.
As such, our teams at Monash and Griffith universities are focusing on strategies that minimise the burden on staff and providers. We are working on automating malnutrition screening, which currently takes 10-15 minutes and should be used when a new resident moves into an aged care home and regularly during their stay. By using existing data from aged care providers to detect malnutrition automatically, staff will be able to focus more on care.
Conclusion:
Malnutrition is a significant challenge in Australian aged care, with four in ten residents not receiving enough of the right nutrients. The importance of nutrition in healthy ageing cannot be overstated, and the current state of affairs is of concern. However, by introducing strengthened quality standards and exploring strategies to minimise the burden on staff and providers, we can work towards addressing this issue.
FAQs:
Q: How many Australians in aged care are malnourished?
A: Our study found that 40% of older Australians in residential aged care are malnourished.
Q: What are the consequences of malnutrition in older people?
A: Malnutrition is associated with poorer overall health, including increased risk of falls and infections, and can accelerate loss of independence.
Q: Why are older people at increased risk of malnutrition?
A: Older people are at increased risk of malnutrition due to decreased appetite, difficulties with chewing and swallowing, and the presence of other chronic diseases.
Q: How can aged care providers address malnutrition?
A: Aged care providers can address malnutrition by partnering with residents to design food options, regularly assessing and reassessing resident nutrition requirements, developing systems to monitor and improve satisfaction with food, and providing staff with the training they need.
Q: What can be done to mitigate the financial burden on aged care providers?
A: Our teams are working on automating malnutrition screening to reduce the workload on staff and providers.
