Nutrition & Hydration Week 14/06/2021 – 20/06/2021
With around 3 million people at risk of malnutrition in the UK we need to engage opportunities to raise the awareness of the risks and promote the good practices that can help prevent malnutrition and dehydration. Preventing malnutrition and dehydration improves health and well-being and helps to reduce the work load on the health and social care services in treating and supporting those suffering from under nutrition and dehydration.
It is very common with dementia for the individual’s relationship with food and drink to change. As dementia symptoms progress, these difficulties meeting nutritional needs can worsen. It can lead to problems such as dehydration and significant weight loss.
Here at Eastleigh Care homes we aim to promote this on a daily basis, by having:
- Regular meal times.
- Healthy snacks and treats throughout the day, including fruit smoothies.
- A variety of different drinks available to promote hydration.
- Our very own pop up pub ‘The Eastleigh Arms’ to promote good hydration and and a good time.
- Staff on hand to prompt and encourage regular nutrition/hydration.
- If required we document food and fluid intake to ensure we keep on track.
If food isn’t enough
Unfortunately, particularly in later stages of dementia, it may be that an individual is unable to meet all of the nutritional needs through food and drink alone. In these situations, specialist dementia nursing care can help. At our dementia care homes in North Devon and Somerset, medical nutrition can be provided for our residents.
Whilst our care teams will go to great lengths to support your loved one’s nutritional needs, if this proves to be inadequate, they are also able to provide nutritional help. Medical care is arranged through our relationships with local GPs, ensuring that the individual has exactly what they need.
