TAST’AGE addresses the topic of training professional on the challenge of malnutrition in older people. The goal is to provide professionals working around older people (healthcare professional, medico-social professionals, homecare services, …) with an adapted training offer and facilitated access to learning resources through a best-practice digital toolbox on the topic of providing a better alimentation, prevention, and solutions to fight against malnutrition in older people aged over 65. The specific objectives are: - To provide high quality vocational training to better fight against malnutrition in people over 65. - To offer open and flexible access to learning and training materials and best practices to improve professional practices. - Encourage the uptake of digital learning and digital tools in vocational training. - Encourage transnational and multidisciplinary exchanges between partners of different countries and expertise facing joint challenges.
A 2013 study entitled “Nutritional Risk of the Elderly in Europe” found that 53% of elderly people were at risk of malnutrition. With advancing age, appetite often decreases, even though nutritional needs remain unchanged. When this is combined with pathological, psychological or adverse environmental factors, older individuals may enter a downward spiral of malnutrition that can become life-threatening. Malnutrition is a major contributor to numerous comorbidities in health and social care settings. Moreover, there remains a significant gap between recommended nutritional guidelines and actual professional practice. Key barriers identified include a lack of organisational culture that prioritises the prevention of malnutrition, as well as insufficient staff training. Tast’Age brings together organisations committed to addressing the challenge of malnutrition in elderly. It aims to equip health and social care professionals working with the elderly with accessible resources and high-quality vocational training to tackle malnutrition.