New guidance on offering vitamin D nutritional supplements to eligible residents in adult care homes was published by the Care Inspectorate on 7 December.
Vitamin D is important for keeping bones and muscles healthy. Current advice is that groups at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, including people living in care homes, are advised to take a daily supplement all year round. This advice is based on recommendations made by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) in 2016.
The guidance was developed by a Scottish Government Short Life Working Group (SLWG) comprising care homes and those that support care homes. The SLWG recommended that care home staff discuss vitamin D supplements with residents and/or their representatives and that any decisions should be considered on an individual basis, taking into account the resident’s personal choice, needs and circumstances. The guidance materials, which were successfully piloted in some care homes, aim to support care home staff with these conversations.
The guidance and a supporting letter for care homes are attached and can be found online here: Vitamin D in care homes.
Workshops on the new guidance have been arranged by the Scottish Government for care homes and professionals who support care homes. These take place on Thursday 14th of December 2023 (3:00-4.30) and Tuesday 23rd of January 2024 (11:00-12.30) and will provide information on vitamin D supplements, the findings from the pilot in Ayrshire and Arran, how to use the guidance to support conversations around vitamin D and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. The content of both workshops will be the same, so there is no need to attend both. We look forward to welcoming you.
Joining details
Thursday 14th December: 3:00-4:30pm
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 381 780 582 889
Passcode: zbMqkn
Or call in (audio only)
+44 131 376 2847,,122762797# United Kingdom, Edinburgh
Phone Conference ID: 122 762 797#
Tuesday 23rd January: 11:00-12:30pm
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 325 785 468 511
Passcode: evkMze
Or call in (audio only)
+44 131 376 2847,,1016923# United Kingdom, Edinburgh
Phone Conference ID: 101 692 3#
Food Standards Scotland Vitamin D Campaign
The vitamin D social media campaign for 23/24 is now live and will run until March 2024. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of the current vitamin D advice and encourage the uptake of supplements. The partner campaign toolkit is now available in 7 additional languages (with translated social media copy also available).
Sent on behalf of Paul Baughan and Alpana Mair
Chairs of the SLWG on vitamin D supplementation in care homes for adults
Scottish Government
