C/N/61. Discuss the statement with reference to the causes of malnutrition in elderly people and the ways in which these causal factors might be addressed by public health practitioners in the UK.

The problem of malnutrition is heightened with old age as the elderly face conditions of ill health, inadequate diet and poor physical mobility that lead to difficulties in maintaining a regular diet pattern. Poor nutrition in the elderly is also related to chronic conditions and hospitalisation and in many cases individuals have to resort to artificial nutrition and effective intervention including risk assessment and screening of nutrition conditions and associated illnesses. This discussion shows the causes of malnutrition in the elderly and identifies treatment patterns and interventions considering research studies, published papers and NSF standards for the older people.