Dietary Advice for Care Home Patients

This information is designed for care home staff to help spot the signs and treat malnutrition amongst patients in care homes. It explains how to calculate the MUST score, how to refer to dietetics, offers tips on food first and food fortification, gives examples of food and fluid charts, provides specific information for patients with dementia and has some useful information about nutrition and pressure sores.

The Importance of Nutrition

Eating well is important for our wellbeing, but is something that many overlook when in a state of good health, as for most it feels like a normal and routine part of our day. The amount that we should eat and drink looks different for everyone, and achieving this can be more difficult for some individuals than it is for others. There are numerous benefits to achieving a good nutritional intake, and these can include:

• Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and BMI
• Improved energy levels
• A stronger immune system to help fight off illness
• Stronger bones
• Maintaining good muscle mass
• Better outcomes after periods of illness
• Remaining independent or gaining back some independence

Remember that as we age, our appetites may not be the same as they once were, but nutrition continues to be just as important to achieve the above health benefits. The residents that you care for may each have different needs and require different levels of input to ensure that they can have the best quality of life possible. This toolkit will provide you with information on how to help your residents, and what you can implement to improve their nutritional intake and health.

Welsh Government Standards - Food and Nutrition Guidance for Older People in Care Homes:

• https://www.gov.wales/food-and-nutrition-guidance-older-people-care-homes

How to calculate MUST:

• https://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/must/must-full

Malnutrition Pathway including advice on how to treat Malnutrition:

• https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/library/managing_malnutrition

Tips for implementing the Malnutrition Pathway in Care Homes:

• https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/tipsheets/tipsheet_carehomes

Food First and Fortification:

• https://www.bda.uk.com/uploads/assets/ddbaa7da-9814-4cdd-94654eae7d721bb8/Creating-a-fortified-diet-recipe-book-20
• https://www.bda.uk.com/resourceLibrary/printPdf/?resource=malnutrition

Dementia and Nutrition:

• https://assets.bournemouth.ac.uk/pdfs/nutrition-dementia-guide-staff

Hydration:

• https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/the-importance-of-hydration

Pressure Sores and Nutrition:

• bda.uk.com/resourceLibrary/printPdf/?resource=pressure-ulcers-pressure-sores-diet

Older Person’s Nutrition Resource:

• https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/eating-drinking-ageing-well

British Dietetic Association Care Home Digest:

• https://www.bda.uk.com/asset/EE339435%2D2DDB%2D435F%2DA033B3334C891AAC/

How to Refer to Dietetics:

For all Nursing Homes and for Residential Homes outside of Bridgend:

Please complete the Referral Form via the following link: Nursing Home Referral Form and email to CTM.Dietetic.Carehomereferrals@wales.nhs.uk

Residential Homes in Bridgend:

• Please complete Referral Form and refer through CRT and send to crtfaxonly@bridgend.gov.uk

For Dysphagia MDT Referrals:

• Please complete the Referral Form via the following link: MDT Dysphagia Referral Form and email to crtfaxonly@bridgend.gov.uk

BAPEN MUST Training:

• https://www.bapen.org.uk/education/bapen-e-learning-portal/must-e-learning-modules-for-organisations/