Volunteers needed for mealtime help for the elderly

A new project in Southampton is seeking volunteers to help provide food for elderly people in hospital, who may be making long term care plans.

A team of trained helpers has been recruited to make sure elderly patients at Southampton General Hospital are eating properly at mealtimes.

It is the first scheme of its kind in the country to be assessed by clinical experts, and if successful it could be rolled out across the UK.

Dr Helen Roberts, a consultant in geriatric medicine and leader of the project, said it was prompted by Age UK campaigns about concerns that older people were not eating well in hospital.

"This is a very exciting and positive project which may well change the face of mealtimes in hospital for older people across the UK and we look forward to assessing the impact it has on our patients’ wellbeing," she said.

A volunteer at Southampton's teaching hospitals, 75-year-old Malcolm Kitson, was recently awarded an MBE in recognition of his many years of work.

Posted by Natalie Edwards