1. dalk, are designed to address
these important issues.
Diet and nutrition in later life
Good nutrition is one of the
major determinants of suc-
cessful ageing and has impor-
tant implication for quality of
life for older people. Re-
search suggests that older
people who eat a healthy diet
have a greater chance of in-
creased or maintained levels
of functional ability, reduced
risk of chronic diseases such
as heart disease and diabetes
and an improved sense of
The need for care work
Principle dietary guidelines for healthy older people
The demand for care workers
in developed countries, such
as Ireland, is going to increase
in the coming decades due to
the twin challenges of popula-
tion ageing and declining
numbers of informal family
carers. Currently 11% of the
total population in Ireland is
aged over 65 years, but this is
expected to increase to 25%
by 2040 with the greatest in-
crease in the very old—those
aged over 80 years (Central
Statistics Office, CSO 2008).
At the same time, the avail-
ability of informal carers par-
ticularly adult children of dis-
abled older people, may de-
cline in future as more women
continue to enter the labour
market (Wittenburg et al.,
2005).
The contribution of foreign
care workers will continue to
play an important role in meet-
ing the care needs of older
people in Ireland. According
to findings from a regional
survey with care workers, mi-
grants comprise approxi-
mately 17 percent of the paid
care workers for older people
in County Louth (Carragher &
O’Connor, 2010).
The Netwell Centre in Dundalk
Institute of Technology has
moved to explore the experi-
ences of migrant care workers
and the supports they identify
as necessary to enable them
to care for older people from a
different cultural background.
A previous workshop with care
workers highlighted the need
for more support around the
issues of diet and nutrition.
This newsletter and the food
preparation seminar sched-
uled for 10th
November (7-9
pm) in O’Fiaich College, Dun-
should be eaten daily.
 Fortified milk should be
consumed by all older
people unless otherwise
recommended.
 At least eight cups/glasses
of fluids should be drunk
each day.
The National Food Safety
Authority of Ireland (2000)
provide dietary guidelines for
healthy ageing. Some of the
principle dietary guidelines
recommended for older peo-
ple include:
 A wide variety of foods,
including those with high
nutrient density should be
eaten regularly.
 An adequate intake of high
fibre foods and fluids should
be maintained.
 Meat, poultry and fish
should be eaten regularly.
Dairy foods such as cheese
Special focus on migrant car e workers
Issue 2
November 2010
Simon Cooper/Organization, 2010
Special points of interest:
 Among the most common
chronic diseases suffered
by older people are those
directly linked to
inappropriate diet and
unhealthy lifestyles.
 Inadequate intake of some
important vitamins and
minerals are liable to occur
in older people who have
more limited diets.
 Reduced vitamin and
mineral intake can cause
nutritional diseases or
disorders such as anaemic
and non-anaemic iron
deficiency and
osteomalacia due to
Vitamin D deficiency (Food
Safety Authority, 2000)
For further information, contact:
Lucia Carragher Tel: 042
9370400
Email: lucia.carragher@dkit.ie
To speak to our Cúltaca for
older people, contact:
Ann Marron Tel: 042 9370501
Email: ann.marron@dkit.ie or
Pat Kerins Tel: 0429370531
Email: patrick.kerins@dkit.ie

2. Previous Workshop
Our workshop in November 2009 provided
the opportunity for care workers from dif-
ferent cultural backgrounds to highlight
their experiences of working with older
people in the home.
For further information or if you have any
queries regarding our workshops, contact:
Lucia Carragher Tel: 042 9370400 ext:
2677 Email: lucia.carragher@dkit.ie
References
Carragher, L., and O’Connor, L. (2010). The Care Worker’s Sur-
vey, Dundalk: The Netwell Centre.
Central Statistic Office (2008). Ageing in Ireland, Dublin: Central
Statistics Office.
Food Safety Authority (2000) Recommendations for a national
food and nutrition policy for older people, Dublin: Food Safety
Authority of Ireland.
Simon Cooper/Organization (2010). The nutrition of elderly peo-
ple, Communitycare.co.uk [online] http://
www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/09/02/115176/a-
watchful-eye-on-malnutrition.htm [accessed 28 Oct. 2010]
Stanner, S (2002). A healthy diet for older people, Nursing &
Residential Care 4 (9): 428 - 433
Wittenburg, R., L. Pickard, J. Malley, D. King, A. Comas-Herrera
and R. Darton (2008) Future demand for social care, 2005 to
2041: Projections of demand for social care for older people in
England. PSSRU Discussion Paper 2517: Report to the Strategy
Unit (Cabinet Office) and the Department of Health. London:
RDC, Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dublin Road
Dundalk
Phone: ++353 429370400 ext: 2677
Fax: ++353 429331163
E-mail: lucia.carragher@dkit.ie
Special focus on migrant
care workers
Transforming Communities, Environments
and Technologies for ageing-in-place
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