The Malnutrition Task Force :Prevention and early intervention

of malnutrition in later life

Margit Physant Project Manager

The Malnutrition Task Force

Independent group of experts across health, social care and local government united to address the problem

of preventable malnutrition in older people

Our mission

To ensure the prevention and treatment of malnutrition is embedded in all care and community support services and awareness is raised amongst

older people and their families

About Malnutrition

Malnutrition

• Over a million older people (1:10)• Devastating• Declining mobility • Decreased resistance to infection• Delayed healing• Dizziness, leading to falls• Depression• Deteriorating quality of life• Death!

Contributing factors

93% of people with malnutrition are

in the community

Our ageing population

Costs of Malnutrition

• Severely malnourished people – see their GP twice as often– have 3 times the number of hospital admissions– stay in hospital more than 3 days longer– incur £1,440 pp in the year following diagnosis

• Increases dependency on family, carers and support services.

Invest to save

• Screening, early intervention and treatment as per NICE guideline could save £71,800 per 100,000 population

• The cost of treating care homes residents diagnosed with malnutrition is twice that of screening all care home residents

• Community meals have social return on investment of between £2.90 and £5.20 for every pound spent

Hertfordshire Community Meals

A social return on investment analysis•Service users: improved health, happier, safer, increased independence. •Family/carers: increased ability to work, more leisure time, less stress and improved relationships •For every £1 invested, the likely social value created through these outcomes is around £5.28 •Divided as 49% for clients, 14% for family/carers, 29% for the State and 8% for Local Authority

What we did

What does good look like?

Engagement with wide range of stakeholders

• Workshops• Learning examples/case studies• Existing tools and guidance

Principles for best practice innutrition and hydration care

Best practice principles

1. Raising awareness2. Working together3. Identifying malnutrition4. Personalised care, support and treatment5. Monitoring and evaluation

1st principle: Raising awareness

Public and professionals must understand importance of good nutrition and hydration•dangers of malnutrition •what to look out for•where to get help/ signpost people toDerbyshire,Dorset,D.CouncilFocus groups: older people

Raising Awareness: Dairy Council Campaign

• Raise awareness of public and health professionals

• ‘Bring it back’ campaign• Free materials: poster, leaflet, postcards flowchart for professionals• Visit www.milk.co.uk

Organisations and individuals working together will provide a more complete service. A combined approach across the community and within health care, social care, the third sector and the commercial sector is essential•Caterers and food providers working with clinicians and therapists•Local Health and Wellbeing Boards, Adult Social Care, care homes, hospitals •Include the older person and relatives

2nd principle: Working together

Organisations and individuals must be well equipped to identify malnutrition in older people•Assess the prevalence of malnutrition in the local population•BAPEN tool(s) even an app! www.bapen.org.uk •Screen people across all care settings •Identify the cause of malnutrition and remedy the situation

3rd principle: Identifying malnutrition

Forming and implementing a personalised plan for and with each older person is crucial•Use NICE guidance or care pathway•Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community (BAPEN) www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk•Start support for ‘non’ clinical management

4th principle: Managing malnutrition

Monitoring and reviewing the older person’s progress and outcome is critical. Monitoring the structures and processes to ensure good nutrition and hydration care is implemented•Service user feedback (incl. relatives)•Annual Adult Social Care Survey

5th principle: Monitoring and evaluating

Implementation

Guides for•Food and beverage providers•Hospitals•Care homes•Local communities•CommissionersAvailable to download fromwww.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk

Thank you !

Margit PhysantProject Manager, Malnutrition Task Force

Email: margit@malnutritiontaskforce.org.ukDirect tel. 020 3033 1469 (Tues-Thursdays)

Website: www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.ukor follow us on twitter @MalnutritionTF