lactating woman, an older person, a disabled person, or someone who is socially vulnerable, such as an orphan. This system recognises that vulnerable individuals are part of a household, and household members will share the food ration. By virtue of having a vulnerable individual in the household, all members of the household may be at an increased risk of food insecurity and possibly undernutrition. Targeting households headed by females, on the basis that such households are most vulnerable to food insecurity, is another strategy that is often used by agencies. Wet and dry feeding Supplementary food can be distributed in two ways, as shown in Table 16, which outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of the different type of supplementary foods for older people. The type of intervention will depend on the context. Table 16: Advantages and disadvantages of different types of supplementary feeding for older people Type Characteristics Advantages Disadvantages Dry Should provide 1,000 to Supplement may be Leaves responsibility of ration: 1,400kcal per person/day shared with the rest preparing food with take Ration should provide at of the household household, either with home least 25% of energy from older person/carer fat, 10-15% from protein Reduces travel time and Dry rations are usually distance for older person larger in comparison to and/or family prepared (wet) rations to Ration may be perceived take into account as a contribution to food sharing available to the Normally provided on a household, may weekly basis contribute to improved social status of the older person within the family Wet Prepared ration should Allows an opportunity Older people may feeding: provide at least 700kcal for older people in the be too weak to on site energy per person/day community to socialise travel to centre Should provide at least and interact amongst every day 25% of energy from fat themselves Maybe reluctant and 10-15% from protein Encourages older people to go to crowded to maintain some places physical mobility on a May encourage regular basis (i.e. it ‘temporary’ provides motivation to displacement of leave the household) the population to a centralised location, increasing exposure to environmental public health risks, disease, infection
lactating woman, an older person, a disabled person, or someone who is socially vulnerable, such as an orphan. This system recognises that vulnerable individuals are part of a household, and household members will share the food ration. By virtue of having a vulnerable individual in the household, all members of the household may be at an increased risk of food insecurity and possibly undernutrition. Targeting households headed by females, on the basis that such households are most vulnerable to food insecurity, is another strategy that is often used by agencies. Wet and dry feeding Supplementary food can be distributed in two ways, as shown in Table 16, which outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of the different type of supplementary foods for older people. The type of intervention will depend on the context. Table 16: Advantages and disadvantages of different types of supplementary feeding for older people Type Characteristics Advantages Disadvantages Dry ration: take home Should provide 1,000 to 1,400kcal per person/day Ration should provide at least 25% of energy from fat, 10-15% from protein Dry rations are usually larger in comparison to prepared (wet) rations to take into account sharing Normally provided on a weekly basis Leaves responsibility of preparing food with household, either with older person/carer Reduces travel time and distance for older person and/or family Ration may be perceived as a contribution to food available to the household, may contribute to improved social status of the older person within the family Supplement may be shared with the rest of the household Wet feeding: on site Prepared ration should provide at least 700kcal energy per person/day Should provide at least 25% of energy from fat and 10-15% from protein Allows an opportunity for older people in the community to socialise and interact amongst themselves Encourages older people to maintain some physical mobility on a regular basis (i.e. it provides motivation to leave the household) Older people may be too weak to travel to centre every day Maybe reluctant to go to crowded places May encourage ‘temporary’ displacement of the population to a centralised location, increasing exposure to environmental public health risks, disease, infection