Case Studies

A daughter contacted Care Campaign for the Vulnerable telling us her 90-year-old mum, living with dementia was presented with a sandwich at supper time saying it was neither appetising nor nutritious. The daughter contacted CCFTV saying she was appalled her mother was constantly being served up cold, small portion and unimaginative food leaving her and other residents often hungry. We received messages from families reporting the same issues in their loved ones care home

''I almost got thrown off a social work degree for raising this issue regarding care home nutrition as a first year student. The important care home food issue on unappealing meals.'' CCFTV supporter.

''I am the chef in a Barchester care home. We certainly do not undernourish our residents. I was the care chef of the year in 2018 with NACC. We will compete again next year. At our home, we are always passing on information on nutrition and fortification. Easy options are not on our menu - home cooked - so we know exactly what's in it.'' Chef at a Barchester Care Home.

''I always bring in our own food because my mum's care home food is just so poor. My mum is paying over £600 per week for the privilege of a mediocre sandwich and is often left hungry because it's so unappetising with inadequate portions. The lunches are no better either. The choices are basic and limited and often the food is tinned''. JD

''I was a manager of a care home and I argued constantly with the chef about the inadequate food served up to elderly residents. In the end, I left''

''I am shocked at what is often placed in front of my mother and other residents. Food is the highlight of their day and I couldn't let my mum eat what management told me was 'good enough when I complained. I brought my mum an egg mayonnaise sandwich and a fruit smoothie and she ate and drank all of it. It's a scandal how some of these homes are just not spending the money on our vulnerable elderly at mealtimes and many residents have dementia so can't complain or do not have visitors to raise these issues on their behalf.

''The chef thought he was Gordon Ramsey. The elderly just want good old fashioned, tasty comforting food. People with dementia especially later stage suffered from a lack of nutrients and difficulty swallowing.'' Ex-manager of a care home

Joy told CCFTV her elderly mum was presented with a prawn sandwich with 'no prawns'r

A daughter sent in her Mother's tea time sandwich telling us it was 'inadequate, unappealing and lacked nutrients”

''Care home food was often inedible, unappetising and just so poor. My Dad was on puree food. No thought or imagination went into preparing it. It was horrid and my Dad would turn his nose up at it. He often just went without, if his family didn't bring him in decent food.''

''My mum's care home menu was often poor. For the money, we were paying it wasn't up to standard. The home didn't cater for peoples individual needs. When we complained to the manager we were told 'it is good enough'

''I work in an elderly care home and every Sunday they made a roast dinner and always served roast potatoes which were so hard. Many were thrown away and often the meat was so tough they couldn’t chew it. On the care provider's brochure, it stated all meals were served with mashed potatoes but I never saw this on Sunday.''Care worker's name withheld.

''My Dad was served half a cold jacket potato and bean juice. My dad loved his food at home but it's rarely warm and so limited. Tea time always consisted of spaghetti hoops or processed. It was so poor. But nothing changed and we got fed up complaining, so brought him in food when we could.''

A Daughter told Care Campaign for the Vulnerable her Mother was regularly offered spaghetti 'from a tin' for supper in a £700 a week care home

''I often saw my elderly mum with dementia turn away from her lunch.. unimaginative and lacking in nutrients would be an understatement''

My Granddad was served at lunchtime a cold jacket potato with just cheese for lunch. It was bland and lacking any vegetables'.

''GOOD NUTRITION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR ELDERLY'' Joy, daughter in care.

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable receives many messages from families and carers telling us their experiences of poor food being served up in care homes. We are told of families concerns about the quality of food in care homes also. Our elderly require the right nutrients for bones and healthy immune systems as well as general good health. It is not acceptable care homes are charging high fees and yet we are being told not to deliver a good, wholesome diet that can help our elderly fight off illness and to remain well.

'''Our chef is great and so accomodating to our residents. Choice and quality is so important'' Manager, Hollywood Care Home, Birmingham sent in some choices on their care home menu

Bonnie Mercer sent CCFTV the excellent choices in the menu and the quality of food they serve to residents at Bramhall Care Home in Tattershall

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE IN A CARE HOME AND WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF FOOD - E MAIL CARE CAMPAIGN FOR THE VULNERABLE at ccftv.cares@gmail.com . WE WOULD ALSO LOVE TO HEAR IF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY OF FOOD IN A CARE HOME. CCFTV ACCEPTS THAT THE MAJORITY OF CARE HOMES WORK HARD TO IMPLEMENT CHOICE AND A GOOD DIET FOR OUR ELDERLY. THESE ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF FAMILIES IN CARE THAT CONTACT US.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION Ref https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ageing/en/index1.html