Food served to older people in residential care
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched their Nutrient and Food Based Guidelines Food Served to Older People in Residential Care. It provides specific guidance to care homes for older people who do not have nutritional requirements due to illness or disease. They do offer tips for providing meals to those who may not have a good appetite but as most residents have special nutritional requirements it is excellent that they have cross referenced to the NACC document Menu Planning and Special Diets which will be available to purchase from the beginning of November.
The FSA's menu does concern us; it has been produced based on the nutritional guidelines, therefore in its present format we do not think it would meet the National Minimum Care Standards e.g. three pasta dishes on one day so no choice of carbohydrate, no Yorkshire pudding with the roast beef. As the National Minimum Care Standards are being reviewed by the Department of Health, we are ensuring that the NACC is being consulted as to how these guidelines will be incorporated and balanced against residents choice. The FSA have also said that due to our comments they will be commissioning new menus to be written in the near future.
Details can be found via the following link: www.food.gov.uk/healthiereating/nutritioncommunity/care
