The research also found more than three-quarters of care homes that cook meals from scratch say they struggle with labour shortages and see no sign of this abating. Three out of every four care homes say they worry about their level of food waste and the associated costs.
Based on a qualitative research project of some 500 care homes conducted throughout 2023, the report highlighted industry-wide concern about the fast-rising inflation of food ingredients and the mealtime associated labour costs – with current labour shortages only exacerbating financial pressures.
Richard Woodward, general manager for care homes at Apetito, commented: “We believe that every meal is an opportunity to enrich lives. Partnering with Care England has allowed us to dive into the challenges and triumphs of dining in care homes, bringing to the forefront solutions that cater to the diverse needs of residents.
“It is hardly a surprise that homes catering for extensive nutritional diversity find this a challenge and we hope this report will help signpost new thinking and creative solutions. This collaboration is more than research; it’s a commitment to setting new standards for care home dining.”
The research findings raise concerns for the sector and suggest that economic pressures facing homes may lead to inevitable compromises in residents' mealtimes and their essential nutritional intake.
The ‘Nourishing Lives: A New Era of Dining in Care Homes’ report aims to tackle these pressing concerns by bringing together best practices and real-world insights. The report provides solutions aimed at reducing kitchen costs for care homes, whilst maintaining quality and nutrition standards for residents.
Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, added: “Our partnership with Apetito has allowed us to gain a much better grasp of the challenges facing care providers up and down the country. Nutrition is a key pillar in providing high-quality care.
“Issues associated with labour shortages and inflationary increases place care providers in an increasingly challenging position. By bringing light to these challenges and elevating good practice, our research seeks to drive sector improvement and make a real difference to those receiving and delivering care.”