Cuviva receives EU funding for malnutrition care

Malnutrition among the elderly is becoming a growing issue. According to the national register Senior Alert, six out of ten patients in elderly care are malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished. Malnutrition among the elderly leads to health problems that, in Sweden alone, cost society over 20 billion SEK per year. Cuviva, a company developing e-health solutions specifically for frail elderly individuals, has received EU funding from INCluSilver for its latest digital health solution to combat malnutrition.

“Obesity is often discussed as a major societal problem, but many people forget that malnutrition among the elderly actually leads to even greater societal costs and suffering. Our digital solution aims to improve coordination between healthcare and elderly care providers and ensure that all parties involved can track the patient’s nutritional intake. This is crucial for sustainable healthcare and elderly care in the future,” says Fredrik Koffner, co-founder of Cuviva, which is running the project in collaboration with the Italian e-health company Meteda.

The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) has identified several challenges that need to be addressed to control the problem of malnutrition among the elderly. One of the key measures is better coordination between different healthcare and elderly care providers, making collaboration easier and giving all caregivers a comprehensive view of the patient’s health. Currently, there are few effective solutions for exchanging information between home care services and the healthcare system, which sometimes results in misunderstandings or essential interventions not being carried out.

In the fight against malnutrition among the elderly, Cuviva, together with WA Dietistkompetens, began developing Dietist Online in 2018—a tool designed to bring dietitian expertise to municipalities and private care providers in a structured way. This project was also supported by INCluSilver. Now, Cuviva is taking the next step, working with Meteda to develop a new e-health solution that further enhances coordination and actively involves the patient in the care process.

With the help of an easy-to-use tablet and measuring instruments, the patient can maintain a normal life at home and independently— or with the support of relatives or caregivers—measure health data such as weight and blood sugar levels daily. Additionally, the patient’s food intake and nutritional plans are remotely monitored by healthcare and elderly care providers. All health data is digitally available to all levels of care providers, creating a complete picture of the patient’s health. This enables home care services, hospitals, and relatives to coordinate their care efforts and act proactively. Care providers also conduct regular video meetings with the patient to follow up on nutritional plans and healthcare interventions.

“This is a unique solution that can solve a major but relatively unknown problem. From similar projects, we know that this solution improves both the quality of care and the quality of life for patients while also leading to significant cost savings,” says Fredrik Koffner.

The project “Fighting Malnutrition” has been awarded €60,000 from INCluSilver, a part of the EU innovation program Horizon 2020. The project’s partner is the Italian e-health company Meteda.

Contact and images for free publication
Fredrik Koffner, Co-founder of Cuviva
📞 0707 29 08 33
✉️ fredrik.koffner@cuviva.com

Malnutrition Among the Elderly Becoming an Increasingly Serious Problem – Cuviva Receives EU Grant for a Unique Solution