The importance of personalised nutritional pathways for residents

Care homes offer a crucial sanctuary for individuals who can no longer live independently due to escalating care needs or safety concerns. As we age, our bodies naturally deteriorate, leading to increased dependence and a range of health conditions that necessitate specialised support. Consequently, care home residents tend to be older, with over 80 per cent of those in England and Wales being aged 65 or above.¹ These age-related health conditions often result in complex dietary needs, requiring meticulous meal planning and nutritional support to maintain their health and wellbeing. These facilities play an essential role in ensuring the wellbeing and safety of our aging population, providing a supportive environment tailored to their unique needs.

Personalised nutrition pathways are an invaluable tool that homes should utilise for supporting residents to not only meet their nutritional needs but also enjoy mealtimes and have a positive dining experience. Mealtimes are undoubtedly an important time of the day within care homes, as not only can food be a highlight of someone's day, but it is also an opportunity for residents to engage with one another.

The value placed on this time of day amplifies the importance of care homes providing a positive dining experience; however, for staff this can become increasingly challenging when catering for different specialist dietary needs. The Nourishing Lives report found that every care home surveyed had between 3 per cent and 19 per cent of residents living with a specialist dietary need. Yet, 19 per cent of care homes said they find it challenging to provide residents with a balanced diet across wide-ranging resident's needs.²