The importance of Nutrition and Hydration

Good nutrition and hydration are vital to everybody’s health and well-being, but as we continue to age, this is not always as easy to maintain.

It is believed that 25% of elderly people experience mild chronic dehydration and 10% are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

Older people are more likely to become dehydrated because of factors such as the fear of incontinence and the thirst sensation decreasing with age.

The recommended daily intake of water per day to maintain optimum hydration is 6 to 8 glasses and combined with a balanced diet, this is the key to maintaining good health.

At Dormy Care Communities, we pride ourselves on the nutritious, high-quality food and drink we serve each day to the ladies and gentlemen living in our four homes. Our meals are prepared by our professional on-site chefs using only the best, locally sourced produce. The menus are changed regularly to ensure that a wider variety of meals is offered and we also tailor our menus to meet the preferences and dietary requirements of our ladies and gentlemen.

As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks are available throughout the day, along with water and other drinks to ensure they stay hydrated.

We are therefore very pleased to support Nutrition and Hydration Week, which runs from Monday 13th March to Sunday 19th March. It is a week committed to focusing energy, activity and engagement on nutrition & hydration as an important part of quality & safety in health & social care settings.

We, of course, practice good nutrition and hydration every day in our homes, but to mark an important awareness event like this, we have also incorporated it into our activities’ programmes.

Whether it’s visiting our Hydration Stations (consisting of a selection of delicious fruit juices), enjoying fruit kebabs or even making prints using potatoes, it’s given us the perfect opportunity of reminding our ladies and gentlemen of the importance of staying nourished and hydrated – as well as being lots of fun too!