Charities offer free checks to combat malnutrition
From celebrity diets to free school meals, the food we eat is rarely out of the news. Covid-19 has also highlighted the risks of an unhealthy diet, with obesity putting people at greater risk of serious illness.
But one issue that is rarely discussed is malnutrition among older people. It’s shocking that an estimated one in 10 older people – or around 103,000 in Scotland – are at risk of not getting the nutrition they need.
While the issue of childhood hunger has quite rightly received a lot of attention lately, there is still too little awareness of food insecurity at the other end of the age spectrum.
Recent research from Eat Well Age Well, a project delivered by Scottish charity Food Train, revealed that a lack of access to healthy and nutritious food is putting older people at risk of becoming underweight and malnourished.
As we get older, health conditions such as dementia or changes to our appetites and senses of smell and taste can also lead to us not eating an adequate diet. Depression, which can be linked to loneliness and isolation, can make it harder for us to take care of ourselves.
Covid-19 has exacerbated this issue, with thousands of older people struggling to access local shops and supermarkets or get online deliveries. Opportunities for social eating, whether that’s a local lunch club or meal with family, have also disappeared from the calendar.
With reduced social contact, it can also be harder to spot issues among relatives or friends. It can be easy for someone living alone to not notice they’ve lost weight or have a reduced appetite.
Eating well is vital for all of us but this is particularly true as we age or if we are living with long-term health conditions. Poor nutrition can have a serious health impact, leading to a weaker immune system and loss of bone density, resulting in more falls and fractures. It can also affect our mental health and make us more vulnerable to depression.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with Eat Well Age Well to offer free nutrition checks to older people through our Helpline this month. We’re urging anyone who is concerned about themselves or an older friend, relative or neighbour to give us a call.
Our friendly, trained advisors will take them through a simple survey to look at their diet and nutrition needs. This will help identify any potential issues before they get too severe.
They can recommend simple changes or advise someone to speak to their doctor or health professional. Our Helpline can also assist people with accessing food deliveries in their area or put them in touch with local volunteers.
As we go into winter, with a new tier system of restrictions in force, we urgently need to make sure everyone has access to the nutritious food they need. We’ve already joined other Scottish charities to call for support for vulnerable customers and to ensure that supermarkets give them priority.
But it’s also important for us all to think about our own health and diet, and look out for older people in our families and communities. If you’re noticed a loss of appetite, have lost weight without meaning to, or are worried about access to nutritious food, then our Helpline are here to assist.
The free checks are available until November 22, by calling 0800 12 44 222 between 9am and 5pm.
Photo by Maria Lin Kim on Unsplash
