NSW: Malnutrition major factor in deaths of disabled in care
By Kylie Williams
SYDNEY, April 15 AAP - Malnutrition was a major factor in the deaths of more than 100residents of disability services in NSW in the last two years, an independent statutorywatchdog said today.
The Community Services Commission said malnutrition and underfeeding was found to bea cause in 121 deaths it investigated during the past two years.
Community Services Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald said many people with severe disabilitieshave feeding difficulties which were not being assessed adequately.
"If they are not properly assessed, then they don't receive adequate or appropriatefood for their needs," he said.
While malnutrition was rarely cited as the cause of death, the condition caused disabilityaccommodation residents to be more susceptible to illness, he said.
Many disability accommodation services have stressed resources are not enough staffto ensure residents were fed properly, he said.
"If residents need to have lots of time feeding or are tube fed then they often missout and receive an inadequate amount," he said.
Mr Fitzgerald said while the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care had takensteps to rectify the problem, more still needed to be done.
"In particular, many problems still retain among non-government accommodation serviceswhich provide 40 per cent of disability accommodation in NSW," he said.
Another problem was accommodation services often did not have access to dieticians,who were needed to make proper assessments of residents' food needs.
Mr Fitzgerald also recommended better training for accommodation staff on the feedingneeds of residents and meal-time procedures.
AAP klw/rs
KEYWORD: MALNUTRITION
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