On February 3rd 2009 the Westminster Forum on Food and Nutrition held a session on nutrition and the elderly. This was a half day seminar that consisted of a range of speakers from professional, policy and lay perspectives examining a range of different aspects of nutrition in later life but focussing upon malnutrition and, inevitably, nutrition within hospital and care settings. The programme and web contact details are listed at the end of this report.

The BSG were invited to send a representative to speak at this forum and I undertook this role and contributed to the session focusing upon the ‘latest thinking on malnutrition’. It was a recognition of the growing role of the BSG in policy debates that we were invited to participate in this event and I hope that, by contributing, I have helped raise the profile of the BSG with a range of different professionals and practitioners. There were several BSG members in the audience –Angie Dickinson and Wendy Martin-who ensured that we contributed to the debate. Engaging with the nutritional community was especially valuable as they think about food and nutrition in a rather different way from those of us who conceptualise and research diet, food and nutrition within an explicitly social context, whilst nutritionists are far more concerned with the content rather than the context of meals. In particular in my talk I tried to emphasise a number of key points that, as a Society, I am sure we would wish such debates to engage with. First that the population of ‘the elderly’ are not homogeneous and that the experience of later life is shaped by the socio-environmental context. Second malnutrition (in terms of under nutrition) is an issue which effects about 10% of those aged 65 and is more prevalent in hospital and care homes (estimated at approximately 20%). Thirdly obesity and over-weight is a key public health issue. Data from the NHS Information Centre reveal that 50% of those aged 65+ are ‘overweight’ (BMI of 25-29); 25% are ‘obese’ ( BMI of 30+ ) and 2% have a BMI of 40+ which defines them as ‘morbidly obese ‘. Finally I emphasised that the challenge for researchers, policy makers and practitioners is to translate nutritional requirements into dietary advice-emphasising ‘optimal diet’ for ‘healthy ageing’ and that to translate dietary advice into ‘eating’-involves a whole range of activities involving purchasing, preparation & eating of food. There is a substantial research agenda involved in understanding each of these different elements of ‘healthy eating’ and translating this into changes in behaviour.

Unfortunately the seminar coincided with the heavy snow fall that affected London and the South East and this disrupted the seminar somewhat as did the roof collapsing in another part of the building! About half of the speakers didn’t turn up-this meant that there was more discussion time around the talks that were presented. Also the audience was probably only about half of the number who had booked to attend. However again this gave us –Angie, Wendy and myself-more opportunity to contribute to the debate and to draw attention of the audience to the BSG and the contribution that we can bring to policy and practice debates. The presentations will be made available on the organiser’s website in due course.

The BSG is often invited to send representatives to speak on behalf of the Society at events such as this. We will be establishing a register of member’s interests so that we can identify the most appropriate individuals to speak for us at these high profile events and ensure that our message is effectively heard in the policy, practice and political arenas.

Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum : Nutrition and the Elderly-seminar programme

9.15 - 09.20                  Chairman's opening remarks

Baroness Greengross, Vice-chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ageing and Older People and Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre


09.20 - 10.00                  How well nourished are the nation's elderly? 

Themes: Are the nutritional requirements of older people being adequately met? How do their dietary needs differ from those of younger adults? What is needed to resolve the 'pre-care' gap in identifying and dealing with elderly malnutrition?

Professor Marinos Elia, The British Association for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN)
Dr Joanne Lunn, Senior Nutrition Scientist, British Nutrition Foundation, Senior representative, Hospital Caterers Association

10.00 - 10.40                  The latest thinking on the causes of malnutrition in elderly people

Themes: How, according to research, are changes in modern dietary trends and life-style putting the elderly at risk of malnutrition? Do regional, social and ethnic variables have an impact? What part do medical conditions and clinical practice play? What is the influence of living conditions? What is the view from the older generation?

Professor Christina R Victor, University of Reading and British Society of Gerontology
Professor Paul Goddard, former sector president, Royal Society of Medicine
Liz Mandeville, Advisor on Older People's Issues, Better Government for Older People
Shirley Murgraff, patient


10.40 - 10.45                  Chairman's closing remarks

Baroness Greengross, Vice-chair, Ageing and Older People All-Party Parliamentary Group and Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre


11.05 - 11.10                  Chairman's opening remarks

Terry Rooney MP, Chair, Work and Pensions Select Committee 


11.10 - 11.30                  Improving Nutritional Care: One Year On

Themes: Following the inception of the Joint Nutrition Action Plan 'Improving Nutritional Care', how much progress has been made? Have the proposals improved the nutritional experience in the care environment?

Dr Rekha Elaswarapu, Lead on Older People, Healthcare Commission and Joint Chair, Regulation and Inspection, Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board


11.30 - 11.55                  Assessing progress from the user perspective

Theme: As efforts are made to improve nutritional care, are the changes being felt at ground level?

Gordon Lishman, Director General, Age Concern and Chair, Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board
Dr Rekha Elaswarapu, Lead on Older People, Healthcare Commission


12.15 - 12.55         The way ahead: Implementing the policies for the future

Themes: How can care associations better serve the needs of those at risk? What can be done to help elderly people to get their individual needs met? Is the training of those who could identify those at risk sufficient? In light of an increasingly elderly population, how will authorities and carers meet the nutritional requirements of the elderly? How can informal carers be better supported in their role?

Debbie Dzik-Jurasz, Lead on Elderly Nutrition, Royal College of Nursing
Sue Ullmann, Chair, National Association of Care Catering
Dr Lisa Wilson, Science Director, Caroline Walker Trust
Lynne Berry OBE, Chief Executive, WRVS
Paul Kirwan, Chief Executive, Carers Network Westminster

12.55 - 13.00                  Chairman's closing remarks and WF&NF thanks and announcements

Terry Rooney MP, Chair, Work and Pensions Select Committee
Peter van Gelder, Director, Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum

Website: http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/foodandnutritionforum/home.html