Care home residents are poorly nourished

Old people living in care homes have a worse diet and suffer more nutrition-related illnesses than those living in private households, says a new survey.

The nutritional study formed part of the Government's Health Survey 2000, released yesterday.

It found that old people in care homes ate less fruit (fresh, tinned or frozen) than those living at home.

The difference was particularly marked among men: only 35% of those in care homes ate fruit six or more times a week, compared with 63% of those at home.

Among women, only half of those in care homes ate fruit six or more times a week, against 69% of women in private households.

The numbers eating red meat six or more times a week were also significantly lower in care homes than in private households - 6% for both men and women in care homes, compared with 15% of men and 11% of women in private houses.

And the prevalence of anaemia was on average two-and-a-half times higher in care homes than in private households.

In care homes, 44% of men were anaemic, compared with 16% in private houses. Among women, the prevalence of anaemia was 29% and 11% respectively.

People in care homes were also more likely to be underweight.