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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 6

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

156 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent report produced by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland which found that a combination of inappropriate food intake, chronic disease and disability placed a substantial number of older people at high risk of malnutrition; and the steps he will take to address this issue. [14521/00]

The report of the Food Safety Authority, Recommendations for a National Food and Nutritional Policy for Older People, was launched recently by the Minister for State at the Department of Health and Children. I am sure the Deputy will agree that across the population spectrum, ensuring an optimal nutritional status by meeting nutritional needs is essential for healthy ageing. For older people as for the general population, the maintenance of good health depends on the availability of safe, affordable and appropriate foods. Eating a wide variety of foods and including foods with a high nutrient density is especially important to the older person.

The health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children has in association with the National Council on Ageing and Older People, published a health promotion strategy for older people. Nutrition is identified in this strategy as a priority area to be addressed and the overall goal is to ensure that older people have an affordable diet which provides adequate nutrition and which optimises their health status. She will also be aware that the national healthy eating campaign commenced with National Healthy Eating Week, 7-13 May. The theme for the campaign this year is "Help your Heart – Go for low fat Healthy Eating".

The report, Recommendations for a National Food and Nutritional Policy for Older People, will greatly assist not only my Department but also many other bodies in the statutory and non statutory sector who have a role to play in promoting nutrition and protecting health among older people.

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