One in ten older people in the UK are suffering from, or at risk of malnutrition. This relatively unknown, yet significant issue, costs the NHS £19.6 billion per year (Elia, 2015). Often overshadowed by obesity as a public health issue, malnutrition impacts a person’s wellbeing; leading to further problems, such as an increase in hospital admissions, increased dependency and increased risk to life.
Asignificant part of what the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) does is providing free online resources to support those working in community and primary care settings.
The resources serve as guidance for educators, student nurses, for those contemplating a career move, or even as a refresher for more experienced nurses working in the community. They offer information on issues such as isolation, clinical decision-making, legislation, working practices and safeguarding, among other things.
Creative arts workshops can be a hard sell for NHS trusts and local authorities, as the accepted model of care comes in the form of doctors and pills rather than artists and paint brushes. But, this is a narrative we would like to see abolished.
Leg ulcer management presents a significant challenge to primary care, as not only is it costly in terms of resources, but is closely linked to social isolation and low mood. Research has also demonstrated that lonely people are more likely to visit their GP, have higher use of medication, higher incidence of falls and increased risk factors for long-term care (Cohen et al, 2006), thus a greater impact on healthcare services.
With family and friends going away for Christmas, many older people find that they lose their support networks at this time of year. Coupled with an increased difficulty in going outside because of adverse weather conditions and reduced public transport, older people can feel a greater sense of loneliness and isolation during the festive season.
Reaching out to the 12 million people in the UK who are living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a major challenge for The IBS Network. Set up over 26 years ago, the charity provides information, advice and support for people with IBS and
those who care for them, working alongside healthcare professionals to facilitate self-management. This is achieved via a small core office team, supported by a wider voluntary advisory board of medical and healthcare professionals who are
specialists in IBS.
Talk Lipoedema is a lipoedema patient support group operating within the third sector across the United Kingdom. It was founded in 2014 with the simple ethos of supporting and empowering those affected by lipoedema. From small
beginnings, it now supports upwards of 2,000 individuals across the UK and further afield. Talk Lipoedema also has a
network of nationwide representatives who work with the local community, therapists and medical world in their area.
The MS Trust is a national charity which works to make a positive difference for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Receiving a diagnosis of MS is life-changing; there is no cure and the disease is characterised by uncertainty and often progressively worsening disability, with between 30–40% of people in the UK will develop advanced MS (Roberts et al, 2016).
The Bladder & Bowel Community has recently launched a number of new services aimed at improving the welfare of those who use this hub of information and advice. Most significantly, the Bladder & Bowel home delivery service marks a significant leap forward in the organisation’s tangible offerings to a community directly affected by bladder and/or bowel conditions.
It has been argued by psychologists and other professionals for many years that quite often the outcomes of situations can be influenced simply by our attitudes.
