Run by Malnutrition Task Force (MTF) and BAPEN, the inaugural event kicks off 1 October, to coincide with International Day of Older Persons.
It comes as the companies report a “significant problem with ‘hidden’ malnutrition” among older people, with an estimated 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 malnourished or at risk of malnutrition across the UK.
With over 90% of sufferers living in their own homes, signs and symptoms of malnutrition can often go unnoticed, which can have serious implications.
Claiming malnutrition affects every system in the body and results in increased vulnerability to illness, complications and, in very extreme cases, death, MTF said it is a ‘major’ public health issue that costs around £19.6 billion a yea year in England. This equates to circa 15% of the total expenditure on health and social care.
Dianne Jeffrey, chair of the MTF, commented: “We wrongly assume that malnutrition and dehydration belong to the past – but the reality is that poor nutrition and hydration are often not recognised by older people, families or health care professionals.
“The risk of becoming undernourished increases significantly as people age and it is further complicated by the common myth that losing weight is a normal part of ageing, when it should actually raise alarm bells.
“We are all well aware that obesity causes serious health problems, but there are also serious health consequences for older people who are at the other end of the scale and don’t eat enough.
“The Malnutrition Task Force is delighted to be a part of the first Malnutrition Awareness Week to tackle these common misconceptions, and raise awareness about the importance of eating well in later life.”
For more information or to get involved, visit: http://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resources/maw2018/.