Four in 10 residents in Australia’s aged care facilities are malnourished, according to a new study.
The first large-scale study into aged care homes and malnutrition found that of the 40 percent deemed to be malnourished, six percent were severely so.
Study lead author Jonathan Foo, from Monash University, said insufficient processes to systematically detect nutritional status meant many residents were not recognised as being malnourished and remained untreated.
“Malnutrition is associated with poorer overall health, increased hospitalisation rates, higher rates of falls and fractures, slower wound healing, higher infection risk, and accelerated mortality,” Dr Foo said.
“Despite such risks, aged care providers are not suitably resourced to perform routine screening using validated tools meaning many malnourished residents are likely to be undetected and therefore untreated.”
He said by the 2050, it was estimated that the number of people 60 years and older would double, and that those 80 years or older would triple.
Dr Foo said the Australian Government estimated the cost of malnutrition in residential aged care facilities at approximately $9 billion a year, with the report by the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety stating the residential aged care sector had “failed to meet the nutritional needs of people for whom they care”.
He said the Commission specifically identified improving nutrition as a priority area for immediate attention.
“Regular screening is crucial to identify those who need a full malnutrition assessment and intervention,” Dr Foo said.
“Our research group are currently working on implementing automated malnutrition screening and food-first malnutrition support pathways with our forward-thinking aged care partners.”
He said the sector was already overwhelmed by all the requirements of providing care to ageing Australians.
“We need to focus on approaches that overcome challenges rather than burdening providers.”
