Eating Well: Supporting Adults with Learning Disabilities Training Materials for People Working with Adults with Learning Disabilities
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35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 1 Eating well: supporting adults with learning disabilities Training Materials for people working with adults with learning disabilities THE CAROLINE WALKER TRUST 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 2 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 3 Eating well: supporting adults with learning disabilities Training Materials for people working with adults with learning disabilities By Dr Helen Crawley THE CAROLINE WALKER TRUST 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 4 © The Caroline Walker Trust 2009 ISBN 978-1-89-7820261: Book and CD-ROM ISBN 978-1-89-7820285: CD-ROM only The Caroline Walker Trust 22 Kindersley Way Abbots Langley Herts WD5 0DQ www.cwt.org.uk E: [email protected] Registered charity number: 328580 Published by The Caroline Walker Trust, 2009. Further copies of this report are available from the address above, via the website or from [email protected]. Price £15 including postage and packing. Please make cheque payable to ‘The Caroline Walker Trust’. A PDF of the full text is available at www.cwt.org.uk The text of these training materials can be reproduced for personal use or for use in training related to eating well for adults with learning disabilities, provided an acknowledgement is made to The Caroline Walker Trust. This report is provided for information only and individual advice on diet and health should always be sought from appropriate health professionals. The Caroline Walker Trust The Caroline Walker Trust is a charity which aims to improve public health through good food. For more information about The Caroline Walker Trust and how to obtain any of our publications, see our website www.cwt.org.uk Other publications by The Caroline Walker Trust For details see cwt.org.uk Reports Eating Well for Under-5s in Child Care Eating Well at School Eating Well for Looked After Children and Young People Eating Well: Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities Eating Well for Older People Eating Well for Older People with Dementia (Published by VOICES. Now out of print but available to download from the CWT website www.cwt.org.uk) Training materials Eating Well for Under-5s in Child Care – Training Materials Eating Well: Supporting Adults with Learning Disabilities – Training Materials Acknowledgements The Caroline Walker Trust would like to thank The Allen Lane Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for funding the writing and production of these training materials. These training materials were written by Dr Helen Crawley. They are based on the Caroline Walker Trust report Eating Well: Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. Thanks are due to all those who helped in the production of that report and all those who commented on both the report and these training materials. Particular thanks for their help in preparing and reviewing these training materials and the accompanying CD-ROM are due to Josephine Clarke, Elaine Gardener, Sarah Jones, Alison Levens, Rosie Leyden, Helena Little, Mary Love, Lesley Stark and all the support staff who took part in pilot training sessions at Woodleigh Care, St Ebbas Hospital and Sanctuary Care. Edited by Wordworks, London W4 4DB. Designed by Information Design Workshop. 2 The Caroline Walker Trust 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 5 Contents Introduction 5 The aim of these training materials 5 Who are the training materials for? 5 How can the training materials be used? 5 How are the materials organised? 5 Part 1 Why eating well matters 1.1 What does eating well mean? 1.1 Why do we choose what we eat and drink? 1.2 Why healthy eating is important 1.5 Seven key things to remember about eating well 1.5 1 Eat a variety of foods every day 1.6 2 Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day 1.8 3 Cut down on sugary foods and drinks 1.11 4 Cut down on salt 1.15 5 Make sure you get enough vitamin D 1.18 6 Protect yourself from infections 1.20 7 Be physically active 1.22 Part 2 Good nutrition for adults with learning disabilities 2.1 Why are some people with learning disabilities at nutritional risk? 2.2 Does it matter if a person is thin? 2.4 Does it matter if a person is fat? 2.6 How some medicines impact on nutritional status 2.9 Other common health problems related to nutrition 2.9 How can we find out if someone is malnourished? 2.13 Helping older adults with learning disabilities to eat well 2.16 Part 3 Eating well throughout the day 3.1 Breakfast 3.3 Drinks 3.3 Snacks 3.8 Eating out 3.9 Food for all 3.10 Vegetarian diets 3.11 Food allergy 3.13 Dairy-free diets 3.14 Food safety and good hygiene 3.14 Part 4 Managing eating difficulties 4.1 Maintaining independence in eating 4.1 Helping someone to eat 4.2 Managing other eating and drinking difficulties 4.4 Other common problem behaviours around food and drink 4.6 The Caroline Walker Trust 3 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 6 Part 5 Encouraging eating well 5.1 Helping people make good choices 5.3 Working with families, friends and other professionals 5.8 Encouraging people to become more involved in the food supply chain 5.10 Part 6 Menu planning 6.1 Menu planning basics 6.4 Cost factors 6.5 Sustainability 6.5 General food-based guidance to help with food and drink choice 6.6 Planning a menu 6.12 Portion sizes 6.12 What if the people I support have eating difficulties? 6.12 Other special diets 6.17 Meal, snack and menu ideas 6.19 Part 7 Additional ideas for trainers 7.1 Case studies 7.4 Resources Organisations 8.1 Publications and resources 8.3 Appendix Good sources of nutrients 9.1 Index 10.1 CD-ROM The CD-ROM at the back of these training materials contains: • a PDF of these training materials • recipes for many of the dishes mentioned in Part 6 • photos of example meals and snacks. 4 The Caroline Walker Trust 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 7 Introduction The aim of these training materials The aim of the training materials is to provide a simple guide on how to help adults with learning disabilities eat well. They also provide practical guidance about the sorts of food and drinks that can be served to ensure that everyone has healthy, nutritious and enjoyable meals and snacks. The training materials are based on the recommendations and guidance in the report Eating Well: Children * To obtain a copy of this report, and Adults with Learning Disabilities,* published by The Caroline Walker Trust. see www.cwt.org.uk Who are the training materials for? These training materials are for all those who work with and support adults with learning disabilities. This may be as a carer, supporter, advocate, family member or friend, health professional or manager in any setting where adults with learning disabilities live, work or socialise. The materials aim to provide simple guidance on what eating well really means for all of us and to offer appropriate help and advice where there may be particular difficulties around eating, drinking or accessing food. How can the training materials be used? These materials can be used in two ways: • They can form the basis of a training day for a group of people, facilitated by a trainer. • Or, individuals can work through them on their own at their own pace. To get the most out of a training day, training should be done by a dietitian or registered public health nutritionist who will be able to answer any questions people have about eating well. (For the contact details of suitably qualified people who can offer training in this area, see www.cwt.org.uk.) As well as the main training materials in Parts 1 to 6, there are some additional ideas for practical exercises, and some case studies, that trainers can use to help supporters and carers understand more about eating well. How are the materials organised? The training materials are divided into seven parts. Part 1 Why eating well matters looks at: • what eating well means • why we choose what we eat and drink • why healthy eating is important, and • seven key things to remember about eating well. The Caroline Walker Trust 5 35238_Output:35238_Output 20/5/09 07:39 Page 8 Introduction Part 2 Good nutrition for adults with learning disabilities looks at: • why some people with learning disabilities are at nutritional risk • managing underweight and overweight • how some medicines can impact on nutritional status • managing other common problems related to nutrition, including constipation and swallowing difficulties, and looking after teeth and gums • how to monitor the nutritional status of adults with learning disabilities, and • the special nutritional needs of older adults with learning disabilities, including those with dementia. Part 3 Eating well throughout the day looks at: • how to help people to eat well throughout the day, including information on breakfasts, drinks, snacks and eating out • how to ensure you provide food for everyone’s needs, and • key food safety and hygiene issues. Part 4 Managing eating difficulties looks at: • maintaining independence in eating • helping someone to eat • managing eating and drinking difficulties, and • behavioural issues around food. Part 5 Encouraging eating well looks at: • helping people to make good choices • working with families, friends and other professionals so that support is consistent, and • encouraging adults with learning disabilities to increase their skills around shopping for, cooking, and growing food.