Aged-care residents to get free vitamin D

Southland and Otago people living in residential care facilities will soon be given free vitamin D supplements to help prevent injuries from falls.

ACC has initiated the pilot programme and is funding the supplements, the Southland District Health Board disability support advisory committee was told yesterday.

It is hoped the programme will help reduce the $10.6 million ACC spends on claims from over-65-year-olds annually. About one-third of that age group have a fall each year.

According to an ACC report, the use of vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of fall injuries among older adults by 28 per cent as it increases muscle strength and bone density.

Southland and Otago District Health Board senior portfolio manager of regional planning and funding Leanne Illingworth said 35 per cent of Otago aged-care facility residents and 24 per cent of those in Southland were prescribed vitamin D supplements.

That would increase to 75 per cent under the programme.

Committee member Louise Carr said an increase vitamin D also had benefits around depression and sleep deprivation.

The supplement was required because society had become too politically correct about people being in sunlight, she said.

"A lot of aged residential care facilities have beautiful gardens and no-one in them. It seems a pity to supply people with vitamin D supplements when there's plenty of it out there in sunlight."

The Southland District Health Board is one of six running the pilot programme before it is rolled out nationally.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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