Care providers advised to use Nutrition Advocates in support of a healthy diet

Good nutrition and hydration within health and social care settings is the focus of a new joint initiative from the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) and the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA).

The Nutrition Advocates programme focuses on sound eating and feeding processes, alongside access to a healthy diet that is age-appropriate and helps service users make positive steps away from the likelihood of malnutrition or dehydration.

In practice, the Nutrition Advocates are designed to link the care environment with sound sources of knowledge on diet and healthy eating, ensuring that care homes and social care companies are able to react in an informed manner to any issues that could potentially impact the quality of nutrition and hydration.

NACC chair Karen Oliver explains: “Low awareness of malnutrition and dehydration amongst service users, carers and care professionals is still widespread. Having a focus for good nutrition in all settings is therefore vital. The Nutrition Advocates will provide a crucial link in the Nutrition Pathway for any social or health care setting. Many social and health care staff are in a position to help monitor the health of older people so it is imperative that we ensure they have the awareness and tools to provide the care our vulnerable patients and service users deserve. The Nutrition Advocates will be important components in this process.”

Janice Gillan, HCA chair, also commented, “The Nutrition Advocates would further underpin key messages in hospitals and healthcare teams such as protected mealtimes. With the strong economic argument for supporting people with good nutrition and hydration there is a need to ensure every health care setting and team has someone in place to keep abreast of the changing face of good nutritional care.”

Providers interested in having a Nutrition Advocate in their setting can find out more at www.thenacc.co.uk, which is also supported by the NACC and HCA Nutrition Day on 20 March.