AN OLD Basing-based home care company has launched a new campaign around eating right as we get older.

Home Instead Senior Care‘s ‘Stay Nourished’ campaign aims to help educate people about the importance of nutrition, the signs of malnutrition and will attempt to dispel some of the misconceptions surrounding diet for older generations.

The launch comes as an independent survey by the company found that almost one-in-five over 75s had not shared a meal with anyone in more than three months.

Those surveyed claimed they had less desire to eat when they are eating alone.

Additionally, 20 per cent of over 75s said they are struggling to cook their own food, and 34 per cent admitted to regularly skipping meals, with almost one-in-ten doing so on a regular basis.

Home Instead hopes that education around older peoples’ nutrition will incite families to talk openly with their elderly relatives about their diet.

As part of the campaign, caregivers have been equipped with nutrition guides, and useful advice to help support their older clients to eat healthily, stay properly nourished and avoid illness through poor nutrition.

Bob Nicholson, owner of Home Instead Basingstoke, said: “We want to bring back the love of food for older people here in the local community.

“As people age they experience changes to their sense of smell, taste and vision, this combined with health issues and often living alone can all impact on their desire to eat.

“Good nutrition is essential to help older people live well and the guidance we will be providing as part of the Stay Nourished campaign looks at all aspects of healthy eating, malnutrition, food hygiene, food preparation and cooking methods” he added.

To find out more about the Stay Nourished campaign, call 01256 840660 or go to homeinstead.co.uk/Basingstoke.