British Dietetic Association applauds charity Abbeyfield’s Christmas lunch offer

Abbeyfield is inviting older people, who might otherwise be alone over the Christmas season, to spend time at a participating Abbeyfield house for a free lunch or even an overnight stay, providing an offer to older people who might otherwise spend the Christmas holidays alone. TheIn the first phase of the BDA's recently launched Mind the Hunger Gap campaign, all dietitians in the UK were urged to highlight the national disgrace that conservatively estimated involves around one million older people in the UK eating less than one square meal a day. This figure does not include those older people in a hospital or care setting. Speaking about Abbeyfield's Companionship at Christmas 2011 initiative, BDA chairman Helen Davidson, said: "What an amazing thing to do. We know that on any given day, around one million older people living in their own homes are going hungry. "Of course, that is bad enough in itself, but can you imagine spending the Christmas holidays in that situation. It doesn't even bear thinking about, but sadly that is very much the reality for many many older people in the UK today. "Not only will the Abbeyfield project go a long way in giving companionship and comfort to many, vitally for many it could be their first proper meal in a long time. "Malnutrition and mortality are usually closely linked. For more than 10 years we have known about the public health scandal that is malnutrition in the UK yet still, vulnerable older people are going hungry day in day out in the confines of their own homes. "This forgotten about population are surviving, if that's the word, on less than one meal per day and, we all know, that this leads to poor health, rising hospital admissions and a massive financial burden to the NHS." Samantha Alleyne from Abbeyfield added: "We believe that nutritious meals are the cornerstone of ensuring the best of health for the body, mind and soul. "Every resident living in an Abbeyfield house receives home-cooked meals every day. We recognise the importance of providing freshly prepared meals, made from quality produce. "We welcome the spotlight the BDA is shining on this very important issue. Our winter campaign, Companionship at Christmas, is our way of extending an invitation to many older people who live alone and don't enjoy the benefits of what should be a basic right. "We are offering the gift of companionship and the chance to enjoy a festive, hot meal at a time of year when everyone should be entitles to one." Visit the Mind the Hunger Gap campaign website at www.mindthehungergap.com and, to find out more about Abbeyfield's Companionship at Christmas 2011, visit http://www.abbeyfield.com/Pages/Cope@Xmas2011.aspx