News

Carers UK and Nutricia have joined forces to embark on a mission for good nutrition among the sick and elderly.

Carers UK carried out research amongst its members which highlighted that almost three quarters (73%) said that they were providing round the clock care for frail elderly and sick relatives. The majority said that they were worried that their loved ones were not getting the correct nutrition, and many also found it difficult to look after their own health.

This partnership will provide carers with information and resources on nutritional care for both themselves and their loved ones.

Most of us will provide care at some point in our lives to an elderly relative, sick partner or a disabled family member at some point in our lives. Caring is part of life but without the right support the personal costs can be high.

Nutricia specialises in medical nutrition for the old and the sick. As well as being the largest medical nutrition company in Europe, Nutricia is the market leader in the UK. In joining forces with Carers UK we will raise awareness of nutritional issues with policy makers, carers and the general public.

Chief Executive of Carers UK, Imelda Redmond CBE comments: “Good nutrition is important for optimal health and to provide strength at all stages of life - this we know, however it is especially important for those less able to care for themselves. Our survey showed that there was a lack of good information on nutritional care and that this was causing a level of stress and anxiety for carers, and for those that received some form of help in this area the majority had seen some clear benefits of such intervention, building both emotional and physical strength. We welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with Nutricia to help many carers feel confident about nutritional care.”

Roger Phillips, Regional Vice President of Nutricia “Collectively as a business, we work hard to provide expert support, guidance and solutions around the subject of medical nutrition for all who need it. However with one in eight adults currently providing unpaid care, we have recognised there is a lot more that can be done to support people, both within those families affected by a need for care, but also within the general public. We are confident that the combined efforts of Carers UK and the Nutricia teams, can make some advances towards a change, both in attitudes, care and policy, in order to ensure the best possible quality of life and nutritional care for all.”

27th April 2011


More information:

About Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition

Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition is a specialised unit of Danone, with a mission to lead the use of specialised nutrition in disease management. With its focus on science-based nutrition delivering proven consumer benefits and better clinical outcomes for patients, Nutricia supports Danone's broader mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Danone has a presence in over 120 countries, and enjoys leading positions on healthy food in fresh dairy products, waters, and baby nutrition, as well as medical nutrition.

About Nutritional Screening

The aim of nutritional screening is to identify at-risk individuals and take appropriate action to improve clinical outcomes via a good nutritional status.

Nutritional screening in the community and with nursing home residents has been shown to lead to:
- 27% reduction in emergency admissions
- 58% reduction in length of hospital stay
- 68% reduction in the proportion of residents losing weight

Nutritional screening however, despite being recommended by BAPEN, NICE and ESPEN, is rarely put in to practice.

Nutricia and Carers UK recommend use of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) developed by the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) and the Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA).


For further information and contact details:
Please direct any enquiries to:
Donna Wright
Euro RSCG London PR
DD: 020 7467 9247
Email: donna.wright@eurorscg.com
http://www.nutricia.co.uk

Contact

Carers UK can provide case studies of carers and spokespeople are available for interview:

Steve McIntosh, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer
Tel: 0207 378 4937, Mob: 07875724088, Email: steve.mcintosh@carersuk.org
http://www.carersuk.org

About Carers UK

Carers UK is a campaigning, policy and information charity of and for carers. Carers UK makes a difference to carers' lives by:

• Campaigning for a better deal for carers;
• Informing carers of their rights and what help is available
• Training and advising professionals who work with carers
• Working across the UK through its membership and networks of branches and affiliates.

Find out more about Carers UK by visiting their website here: