Improving the nutritional status of older residents in care – new national minimum standards

Abstract

Summary On 1st April 2002, national minimum standards for care homes for older people came into force in England and Wales (Department of Health 2002). These were published in accordance with the Care Standards Act 2000 and replaced the Registered Homes Act of 1984. The Care Standards Act also created the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC), an independent non‐governmental public body to regulate social and health care services (previously regulated by local councils and health authorities). Meeting the new standards is a core requirement for all care homes providing accommodation and nursing or personal care for older people and will form the basis on which the new NCSC will determine whether homes for older people meet the needs and secure the welfare and social inclusion of those who live in them. Several of the key topics highlighted in the Act relate explicitly to food and food provision (including health and personal care, daily life and social activities and staffing). For example, specifications are made about the type of food that is acceptable, when it should be eaten, the appropriate number of meals per day and their distribution throughout the day. This article outlines the main nutrition related issues in the new standards and highlights some available resources that may help care home owners to meet them.