Wessex AHSN improves health of Purbeck's older people

Over 3 million people across the UK are either malnourished or at risk of malnourishment. Over 1 million are over the age of 65 and the vast majority of people are living in the community.

The most recent figures (2007) estimated the cost of malnutrition to be in the region of £13 billion pounds a year.

Malnutrition, here characterised by low body weight and weight loss, is a major cause and consequence of poor health and older people are particularly vulnerable.

The Malnutrition Task Force is an independent group of experts across health, social care and local government united to address avoidable and preventable malnutrition in older people.

In 2014, Dorset's Purbeck region was selected by the Malnutrition Task Force to be one of its five pilot areas. Wessex AHSN has funded and supported the activity as part of its nutrition programme, improving the health of older people through initiatives including workshops, lunch clubs and the establishment of new networks with partners in health, social care and the local authorities.

Read more about the Purbeck initiative in this local press coverage, and learn about the success of the Malnutrition Task Force pilot programme in their newsletter below.

If you’d like to know more about the Wessex AHSN nutrition programme, please email nutrition@wessexahsn.net.