"Food illiteracy" among rest-home workers means many have scant idea how to feed elderly residents, and the sector needs to step up with extra resources for training, says the academic supervisor of a University of Otago rest-home nutrition study highlighting problems.
Prompted by the Dunedin-based study of selected rest-homes, the study's academic supervisor and dietitian, Julian Jensen, approached Minister of Health Tony Ryall and District Health Boards New Zealand, to push for tougher standards.
Mrs Jensen told the Otago Daily Times it was important not to overstate the problem, because many rest-homes provided decent food and adequate assistance with eating.
However, she recommends regulation ensuring new residents are screened for nutritional needs, mandatory nutrition training for rest-home workers, and a requirement rest-homes sought input on menus from a dietitian.
The Otago University dietetic training programme students' study of 50 New Zealand rest-homes, completed in January, found a lack of nutrition education training for nurses, caregivers, cooks and caterers, Mrs Jensen's letter to Mr Ryall says.
"I believe it is important to require that in-service training for rest- and residential home staff is required on an annual basis, to ensure the proper understanding of the nutritional needs of this vulnerable group," the letter says.
"People can be admitted into care in a poor nutritional state and only be asked about what they want for breakfast and what they dislike."
Data was poor about the extent of severe malnutrition in New Zealand rest-homes, the letter says.
Mrs Jensen told the ODT "food illiteracy" among rest-home staff, many of whom were young and poorly paid, was an issue when devising food plans for people with special needs.
An adult generation had emerged that had not been taught in school or at home about cooking good food, she said.
Low pay meant some in the sector lacked motivation, and there was evidence that while training was available, it was not taken up.
Training needed to be regulated and "somebody's got to put their money where their mouth is".
She believed lack of training and knowledge, rather than inadequate food budgets, was the main issue.
Otago-Southland Aged Care Association board member Malcolm Hendry said the sector would need more funding if faced with additional regulation.
He said it was difficult to know the extent of any nutrition issues - the Otago study was a snapshot, rather than being representative - but rest-homes were contractually required to provide decent food, which ought to be sufficient.
Mr Ryall told the ODT nutrition was a "complex issue" for rest-home residents, but also for the elderly in their own homes.
He said the Government's spot audit regime introduced this year included checks on what the elderly were fed.
