Baroness Margaret Sharp
Chair, Food in Later Life meeting and Chair, Age Concern Surrey
'Food is a catalyst for all kinds of social activity'
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Baroness Sally Greengross, OBE
Keynote speaker - Food in Later Life and
Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre, London
Malnutrition in older people in the community a major problem - 40% of GPs unaware
[ Video - Transcript ]

Andrew Isaac
Speaker - Food in Later Life meeting
Seniors and Marketing Director, Sodexho Healthcare Services Ltd
"Food in Later Life research outcomes will help define our services to the Seniors market."
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Rick Wilson
Speaker - Food in Later Life, Director of Nutrition & Dietetics, King's College Hospital NHS Trust
'When someone is admitted to hospital under-nourished, it's too late!"
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Neil Bosomworth-Palliser
Consultant Chef

"You can't live on soup and ice-cream alone - that is what most older people with swallowing problems in care are usually given.
With 74% of nursing home patients, 15% of all hospital in-patients and upto 65% of stroke patients suffering from swallowing problems (dysphagia) that is a lot of older people not getting their daily nutritional requirements. And older people are not asked about what foods they would like to eat, especially if communication is difficult. This is particularly true of older people with dementia, Parkinson's disease and managing the after effects of stroke.
You eat with your eyes - so unrecognisable puree where all the different foods that make up a meal are mixed together are not stimulating to the appetite. Neither are they nourishing enough as too much water is added, thus reducing the calorific value of such meals.
I am a Consultant Chef employed by Nutricia in the UK, Ireland and Europe to deliver training to nutritionists, dietitians and care managers on the nutritional care of older people. I also run the Care of the Elderly course for the Royal Institute of Public Health."

Brigid McKevith
Senior Nutrition Scientist
British Nutrition Foundation (BNF)

"The Healthy Ageing Task Force of the BNF is looking at nutritional drivers across the life-course. More older people have problems with exclusion, access and choice associated with food than other sections of the population. If we can contribute to solving these problems for older people then we solve them for everyone. That is what the Task Force will be addressing.
The outputs from the Food in Later Life research project fit perfectly into the work of the Task Force and will certainly be included in our publication."

Martin Koyce
Project Manager 'Strengthening our Appeal'
Tesco

"The Food in Later Life meeting has reinforced many key points which we have taken on board - shelf heights, trolley types, congestion in store and general assistance for older people, plus cafes and counter service.
We are currently trialling in 16 stores an incentive initiative - free café drinks or double points - to see if we can attract our older customers to come on a Tuesday when the stores are quieter.
And we are considering how best to extend our home shopping service - but I had not taken on the board the fact that home shopping may contribute to social isolation. I can see now that it is a balancing act!
I will definitely be sharing my experience here today with colleagues and the topic has certainly been raised higher up my agenda.
I look forward to seeing further results from the project - we need further guidance!"

Mandy Sprague
Development Officer for Older People's Services, Caerphilly

"Working in partnership with public health and local health we must find ways to raise awareness among GPs and other professionals of the presence and impact of under-nutrition in older people.
We must explore further ways of getting more people interested in food, nutrition and cooking in order to combat vulnerability especially at times of change in personal circumstance and health.
The research findings and contacts I have made today provide further fuel to achieve change locally. Thank you!"

Mr Philip C
Research Participant, Food in Later Life project

"One word I have not heard too often today is motivation - people with no targets or ambitions for the day tend to be less happy and healthy - in my opinion.
Now, I am very blessed and fortunate in that I am healthy and happy - and I prepare my own foods from my own fruit and veg and make cakes and jam. And I enjoy it all!
Food and enjoying food with others is a great motivator - and very practical."

Pamela Holmes
Programme Manager, Help the Aged

"Food and how it is experienced and enjoyed by older people is a subject that must be paid more attention. Hearing the voices of older people coming through the Food in Later Life research is very powerful."

Ruth Gibbons
Institute of Consumer Sciences and freelance home economist

"The results of the Food in Later Life project chime exactly with my own experience when teaching older people to cook - food is not just about nutrition. It is an experience."

Dr David Metz
Population Ageing Associates and co-author with Michael Underwood of Older richer fitter

"Nutrition in later life is a hugely important area - but one that has been neglected by researchers.
The presentations given today are very welcome and must be taken account of by stakeholders from the commercial, service and voluntary sectors. The Dissemination Workshop is just the start - stakeholders must act on this information.
Population Ageing Associates will be taking this forward and contributing to raising awareness of this issue among stakeholders."