09.09.2019
This weekend's Food Festival 2019 in Aarhus had not only samples of food but also a serious political topic on the menu. In a new "Health and Sustainability" tent at the festival experts and head politicians debated undernutrition in elderly citizens and patients.
Debate in a tent at the yearly Food Festival i Aarhus. For the first time undernutrition in elderly was given a special focus. Foto: Rune Borre-Jensen, Central Denmark Region
In the health-tent at the food festival there was a one and a half hour dialogue on issues causing and preventing undernutrition in the elderly.
It is a complex challenge as a lot of things can lead to undernutrition - both physical, mentally and socially. Many stated that this area lacks documentation and research.
Some fact were mentioned:
- 42 pct. of elderly citizens in assisted living facilities experience a weightloss in a six month period.
- 43 pct. of the elderly patients in geriatric departments loose weight during hospitalisation.
- In Denmark, the estimated expenses due to consequences of undernutrition in elderly adds up to six billion Danish Kroner (DKK) a year. (For instance more homecare, visits at local practitioner, readmissions to hospitals, longer hospitalisation etc.)
The debate panel was: Chairman in Central Denmark Region Anders Kühnau, Mayor of Aarhus Municipality Jacob Bundsgaard, member of Kost- og Ernæringsforbundet Birgitte Vang Hansen, Associated Professor at Aarhus University Susanne Højlund and Managing Director of Madkulturen Judith Kyst.
