Nutrition in care homes and home care. From recommendations to action

Undernutrition remains a considerable problem in health-care settings and policies throughout Europe. In 2002, the Council of Europe published a report on food and nutritional care in hospitals, which contained over 100 recommendations for improvement. The current report explores the prevalence, causes and specific consequences of undernutrition in care homes and home care. It builds upon the work of the Belgian National Food and Health Plan and the international workshop on undernutrition in care homes and home care, which was organised in Brussels on 22 and 23 November 2007 by the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment.

The report examines the major barriers to proper nutritional care in these health-care settings and explores the roles and responsibilities of all actors involved. Detailed recommendations for action on different levels have been elaborated by experts from several Council of Europe member states to improve awareness, screening and management of undernutrition.