‘Mocktail Morning’ Highlights Importance Of Good Hydration At Care Home
Residents at a care home in West Sussex have been given a taste of the summer after taking part in a ‘mocktail morning’ to highlight the importance of good hydration.
Glebe House care home is taking part in a pilot scheme called ‘Hydrate in Care Homes’, which has been devised by the Kent-Surrey-Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSSAHSN) to improve hydration among older people living in residential and nursing homes.
Residents at the Shaw healthcare-owned home were treated to a selection of mocktails including ‘Faux Champagne’, the ‘Ray Rodgers’ and the classic ‘Shirley Temple’. The drinks were freshly made at the care home with platters of fruit provided as another source of hydration.
Similar trials in Kent and Surrey care homes saw improved hydration among residents, which also led to a decline in the amount of trips and falls, as well as lowering the chance of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).
The home’s activities coordinator, Jamie Jewell, and team leader, Michelle Hedgcock, have both been nominated as ‘hydrate champions’ and undertook training to understand the best ways of increasing the fluid intake of their residents. Working with the KSSAHSN’s coordinator, Laura Perkins, they will aim to provide monthly reports on the amount of falls and UTIs to analyse the effects of improved hydration in residents.
Julie Levy, manager at Glebe House care home, said: “After hearing about the success of this scheme elsewhere I became interested in the idea of piloting it here at Glebe House. The mocktail morning was a huge hit with the residents and, as a result, we’re already looking into having a monthly ‘hydrate’ morning, whether it be with mocktails or other fun and interactive ways to increase hydration.
“We’re also hoping to develop a hydration policy, so that residents and their families can be safe in the knowledge that they are receiving the optimum food and drink that will encourage wellbeing, health and hydration. Through our continued work with the KSSAHSN, we hope to proactively reduce the risk of accidents while providing residents with stimulating social events.”
Glebe House care home is run by Shaw healthcare, and provides nursing and residential care for elderly patients and those with physical disabilities. Shaw healthcare provides care for individuals in nursing and residential homes, hospitals, supported living environments and domiciliary care schemes. Its services range from comprehensive care packages through to low level support in the community for older people and adults with physical, sensory or mental health support needs.
