Fears aged care residents are ‘starving’, as 12,500 suffer significant weight loss

A new report showing significant unwanted weight loss in 12,500 residents has fuelled fears up to half of those in aged care homes are malnourished.

A shocking report has found that more than 12,500 elderly residents in aged care homes lost a significant amount of weight over a three-month period last year, as fears grow they’re not being given enough to eat.

The Residential Aged Care Quality Indicators report revealed that 12,512 residents suffered significant unplanned weight loss between July and September, fuelling concern that up to half of people in aged care are malnourished.

Significant weight loss is determined as being more than five per cent of body weight.

Food being served in aged care facilities across Australia has come under fire. Picture: Supplied

On top of that, 13,780 suffered consecutive unplanned weight loss every month over the three month period.

News Corp last month revealed disgusting photos of meals being served to the elderly in Australian homes, showing tiny portions, containing very little protein.

In some instances the food – described as “brown sludge” – was unrecognisable.

Dietitians Australia Chief Executive Robert Hunt said “too many people in aged care were starving”.

He said that despite the government implementing a $10 basic daily fee supplement for every resident in July last year, unplanned weight loss in residential aged care facilities had not shown significant improvement.

Dietitians Australia CEO Robert Hunt.

He said the group had not believed the extra money was being spent on nutrition before the report on Wednesday, and now it had evidence to prove it.

“Dietitians around the nation are still reporting grossly inadequate meals being served to aged care residents, and we predict this will only get worse with rising food prices and food insecurity,” Mr Hunt said.

“Malnutrition is rife in the residential aged care sector, affecting up to half of residents, and we’re deeply concerned how recent pandemic-related events could be driving this statistic even further.

“Unplanned weight loss is just one indicator of malnutrition.

“A resident can still be malnourished and not lose weight, which is why we need mandatory malnutrition screening in aged care.”

Food being served in aged care facilities across Australia. Picture: Supplied

More than 12,500 elderly residents in aged care homes suffered significant unplanned weight loss over a three-month period, according to a report.

He said DA was bracing itself for the next quarter as that would coincide with known staff and food shortages.

The quality indicator program was introduced by the Government in 2019 following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which revealed how providers were spending on average just $6 a day on food for each resident.

Mr Hunt said malnutrition screening should be included in the quarterly statistics, as a preventive measure.

Mr Hunt said as a condition of receiving the $10 basic daily supplement, food in aged care homes should be subject to a mandatory annual assessment by an accredited practising dietitian.

The latest report also revealed that almost 10,200 residents had one of more pressure injuries, nearly 39,000 were being restrained and around 57,600 – or a third – had suffered a fall.

Meanwhile, more than 36,300 were given antipsychotic drugs, although only 19,557 were diagnosed with psychosis.

Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said last month that the nutritional needs of older people in care had been prioritised by the Morrison Government with the $10 supplement, “part of the overall $18.3 billion response to improve the quality of care across the sector”.

He said the Health Department expected to see significant improvements in quality services by providers.

Originally published as Fears aged care residents are ‘starving’, as 12,500 suffer significant weight loss