Vitamin a tool in care of aged

Local doctors and nurses will be schooling up on the merits of Vitamin D when a visiting expert comes to Wanganui later this year.
The visit of Professor Ngaire Kerse is linked to a campaign the Whanganui Regional Primary Health Organisation and ACC started in April to get increased doses of Vitamin D to those living in aged care facilities around the region.
Judith MacDonald, chief executive of the Whanganui Regional Primary Health Organisation, said as a result of that campaign, many rest home GPs had been proactive in prescribing Vitamin D.
Mrs MacDonald said they were waiting for data from the first quarter to come through to properly gauge what effect the programme was having.
She said Professor Kerse would be a keynote speaker at upcoming clinical education sessions the PHO was organising.
Professor Kerse is based at Auckland University's Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and has a part-time general practice in the city.
Her research interests include gerontology research, focusing on maintaining function and quality of life and preventing falls.
Mrs MacDonald said the PHO was expecting the increased use of Vitamin D would lead to a drop in the number of falls, injuries and hospitalisations.
Statistics show that about a third of adults over 65 will fall each year and as they get older, the risk of falling increases, with the number rising to 50 per cent at age 80. Muscle weakness and poor balance are responsible for most of those falls.
Research had shown a significant association between muscle strength and Vitamin D levels and reducing the number of falls was now a priority for ACC and the Ministry of Health.
All of the 473 people in residential care will be assessed for their suitability to receive a monthly supplement. Taking the supplement will be voluntary.
ACC injury prevention consultant Ellen Mildon said many people in residential care were Vitamin D deficient because they rarely went out in the sun, which was its main source.
"Last year in the Wanganui area there were more than 200 claims for falls in people over 65. We believe the Vitamin D supplements will be a big help in bringing those numbers down."