Empowering Carers To Tackle Dehydration and Malnutrition Through Awareness and Education

Nutrition and hydration are crucial to an individual’s health at any stage of life Nourishment and hydration support our whole body system including our immune system which can protect us against viruses Preventing malnutrition and dehydration promotes health and well-being while also reducing pressure on health and social care systems We know that risk factors such as falls, anxiety, confusion, UTIs recovery from illness and wound healing are but a few of the areas which can be improved by nutrition and hydration

Roughly three million individuals are facing the risk of malnutrition in the UK with many more suffering internationally The global community needs to explore opportunities to raise awareness about the dangers and encourage good practices to help combat malnutrition and dehydration as a whole Hence why here at Nellsar, we are going all out for Nutrition and Hydration Week by championing a week-long campaign for everyone to understand more about what they need to do to maintain health and well-being through food and drink

For the inaugural day we hosted ‘Mocktail Monday which included a few mocktail recipes for the residents to choose from demonstrating that staying hydrated can be fun when integrated into daily activities

Tasting Tuesday included a workshop for the residents on herbs and spices providing information on some of the properties culinary herbs hold and the benefits to overall health in particular digestion

On

Wednesday a Global Afternoon Tea Day was held across each of our 13 care homes where we explored the top 5’ finger foods

Thirsty Thursday was an important day in our awareness week providing tips on ways to stay hydrated Homes set up lolly trollies tea-tasting sessions and hydrating foods sessions while some homes trialled Jelly Drops which are hydrating sweets and more Fluids can come from the foods we eat as well as the

By Leni Wood, Head of Nutrition and Wellness at Nellsar (www nellsar com)

number of drinks we consume in a day Foods like soups stews fruits and vegetables especially broccoli cucumber strawberries courgette and watermelon contain high levels of water contributing to the daily fluid intake Hydration is essential to all body systems from lubricating joints and digestive health to organ function Older adults can become prone to dehydration as the sense of thirst can diminish in later life

The Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea Fruity Friday and Sundae Saturday are among the most vibrant days of Nutrition and Hydration Week at Nellsar giving residents the chance to get creative with fruit and veg whilst also learning useful foodie tips; including how fibre plays an important role in the health of all people including older adults This helps to improve digestion, mood quality and an overall feeling of well-being

Sundae Saturday’ showcased different options such as dairy free and low-sugar A low-sugar alternative is a nice option for people with diabetes and dairy-free options for those who are vegan or dairy intolerant Malnutrition and dehydration in the health and social care sector can be avoided in most cases With staff training and resources being aimed towards these areas of the health service I believe it can be greatly improved I believe the focus is slowly but surely shifting to improved person-centred nutrition and hydration which is accessible for all those living in homes across the UK There is still a way to go but if we can make waves in Nellsar then other homes can do the same

I’m sure everyone is doing their best to care for their residents at a time when budgets are extremely tight It doesn’t have to cost more money to improve the nutrition and hydration of those in your care It is all about education best practices and looking at the roles and responsibilities of staff Imagine the time saved if those in your care felt happier and healthier simply by having a better nutrient and fluid intake People sleeping better feeling better appetites improving ulcers and pressure sores healing faster and medication side effects like constipation and headaches avoided – all through food and drink I see it happening on a weekly basis in my line of work

If any care providers are reading this, I urge you to apply your focus to person-focused nutritional health and hydration – I assure you that you won’t regret it

Latest Census Data Shows “Demographic Time Bomb” Set to Hit UK Care Sector

Rapid growth in the number of over 65s living alone looks set to drive a surge in demand for later life social care and other public health services according to retirement specialist Just Group

Analysis of the 2021 Census data1 released last week shows that 3 3 million over 65s are now living alone – a 15% increase from the 2011 Census when 2 9 million over 65s were in one-person households

The extra 420 000 over 65s living alone – three in 10 people among this age group – is significant because research2 demonstrates a close link between living alone poor health and greater use of public health services

Stephen Lowe group communications director at Just Group said the growth in the sheer numbers of people in this age group, was likely to start increasing demand for health and social care services

Every year household data shows the clock is running down on a demographic time bomb for the UK s creaking social care sector he said

“These latest government figures show double-digit growth in the number of over 65s living alone over the past decade Older people are more likely to suffer from health conditions as well as loneliness which in itself can contribute to deteriorating health

The almost inevitable knock-on effect from this will be an increased demand for public health services such as social care, piling pressure on a sector that is already struggling to cope ”

Research from Just Group s 2022 Care Report – the tenth in a decade-long series – found that threequarters (75%) of those aged over 65 have not thought about care, planned for it or spoken to loved ones about it

Fifty-nine percent also said that they were confused by recent government announcements on social care

Stephen Lowe added to concerns that the social care system could be overwhelmed when such a large unprepared cohort starts to increasingly need its services