Today the Social Renewal Advisory Board published it’s recommendations to Scottish Gov in this report. I’ve pulled out some thoughts in relation to #olderpeople and #food on 1st reading it. Lots more to digest. Definitely not an exhaustive thread.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/not-now-social-renewal-advisory-board-report-january-2021/pages/12/

It’s positive to see explicit recognition of the challenges older people face in relation to #foodsecurity as part of Call to Action 8, recognising financial & non-financial barriers to food
“ Ensure everyone can access nutritious, culturally appropriate and affordable food.”

"non-financial barriers to food...including physical and digital barriers, the availability of appropriate food, the reduced availability of social care support to access or prepare food and the resilience of local food systems to meet diverse nutritional needs" (p29)

Recognition of the non financial barriers to food is something @eatwellscot & @foodtrainscot have long been advocating for see our 4th Call to Action,which is supported by research from @KateReidGlasgow & @CatherineLido Determining if a person is #foodsecure is multi-dimensional

The report continually recognises the value of the 3rd Sector, need for partnership working, need for long-term funding, the need not to replicate but see what is working. "This doesn’t necessarily need to be delivered by local authorities and defined by geographical boundaries”

This includes reference to @FoodTrainScot & @MealMakersScot “To overcome non-financial barriers to accessing food, there’s a need to invest for the long-term in local shopping and meal delivery services, and these must be knitted together with other local services."

See @eatwellscot 3rd Call to Action-community investment is a vital means of tackling #foodinsecurity but also wider public health issues of #socialisolation #malutrition We must acknowledge the importance and value of the local & how this enables support for the whole individual

It's positive this report recognises how investment in supporting older people & food has a wider public health impact “A practical approach, tailored around people’s food needs, can also help tackle isolation and support public health and provide access to wider services.

For instance acknowledgement of the role of volunteering & discussion of self-worth- which we know has an impact on #malnutrition risk “[Volunteering] gave [the participants] a sense of purpose and helped combat loneliness and isolation by way of regular social interaction.”

It's great to see explicit discussion about older people food security. But what I really look for now is to see how this report will enact change? I look forward to seeing how SG will act on these recommendations to support social renewal @ClydesdAileen @S_A_Somerville