MALNUTRITION OVERVIEW
Malnutrition is an issue that faces an alarming amount of elderly people in Australia. It can be defined as a lack of proper nutrition and nourishment in a person’s diet, which leads poor health outcomes and complications.
Research has found “poorly nourished older Australians do not enjoy active, healthy and independent lives that enable them to participate fully in our society.” It also suggests that elderly citizens who are malnourished have increased visits to the doctor, more frequent admission into hospital, and an increased likelihood of premature admission into residential care.
Malnutrition is a growing issue among elderly citizens and Meals on Wheels plays a major role in tackling the issue. It is known as a ‘preventative’ care service.
HOW MEALS ON WHEELS HELP
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Meals on Wheels is known as a preventative care service. It targets people who are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment and provides them with the appropriate dietary requirements. Not all clients have this issue, but of the 93,000 clients that Meals on Wheels treat, around 40,000 of these people are deemed malnourished or at risk of malnourishment and are in need of assistance.
By providing people with nutritionally balanced meals, services are keeping thousands of people out of hospitals and helping them fulfil their potential to live happy and healthy lives.
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STATISTICS AND RESEARCH
There is limited research regarding the health of elderly Australians, but scattered across the past decades there have been findings regarding elderly people at risk of malnutrition by individual researchers:
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For more information visit the AMOWA (Australian Meals on Wheels Association) website under 'About' and scroll to 'National and International Reserach'
OTHER INFORMATION
MEALS ON WHEELS CLIENTAL BASE:
- A meal costs between $7-10 dollars, including delivery. Meals on Wheels services do everything they can to ensure costs remain low.
- The meals provided are approved by dieticians to ensure they have the relevant proteins, fats, carbohydrates and nutrients to sustain a healthy diet. Meals on Wheels also customise their meals to suit various dietary requirements of their clients.
Reference:
- Cost benefit analysis of an intervention to improve the nutritional status of community dwelling older Australians - January 2011
- AMOWA Submission Senate Select Committee on Health- 2013