Good nutrition 'should be encouraged in care homes'

Care homes should be encouraged to deliver good nutritional meals to their patients.

This is according to Daniel Blake, policy development manager at Action on Elder Abuse, who explained that a good diet is "absolutely essential" for older people.

"Restaurants serve more people over a longer period of time and manage to serve hot food with choice," he remarked. "We don't see why care homes aren't able to deliver that."

The problem seems to be widely acknowledged as Mr Blake added: "The quality and consistency of good food in care homes is something that's raised repeatedly by older people."

Dame Jo Williams, chairwoman of the Care Quality Commission, recently told the Independent that public sector nursing homes around the country could suffer as their owners look to cut costs.

She explained that as government spending is reduced, care home operators will be forced to cut their expenditure in areas like staff training, building repairs and activities for residents.

Care of the elderly news : 4 February 2011