“I don’t eat when I’m sick”: Older people’s food and mealtime experiences in hospital

Highlights • There is little in the literature on the food and mealtime experiences of older hospital patients, even though it is commonly known that their dietary intake is sub-optimal during hospitalisation. • Sub-optimal food intake during hospitalisation is associated with adverse health-related outcomes. • Barriers to adequate food intake are multifactorial and complex, and require multilevel interventions, including a change in the awareness and attitude towards food amongst healthcare staff and older hospital patients.