Nutrition and Physical Activity as the two areas that have the most impact on an older person’s wellbeing.

Limited mobility, reduced appetite, and deteriorating sense of taste and smell, presence of chronic disease and taking many medications, all impact on nutritional status.

Increasing social isolation, disinterest in preparing food and eating alone and poverty all impact on a person's ability to access food and eat well.

Risk of falls, fractures and infections, poor wound healing and poor recovery from surgery and longer hospital stays can all be linked to poor nutritrion.

Malnutrition may also lead to decreased appetite, dental problems, depression, apathy and even dementia.

Nutritional risk is of increasing concern to health workers because of its links with poor health outcomes and can often be marked by recent weight loss and low body mass index.