As part of Hydration and Nutrition Week, residents and colleagues at Ashton Manor Care Home in Lancaster are focusing on the importance of eating and drinking well.
Across the week, the home is running a series of activities designed to support good nutrition and hydration. This includes a shared breakfast where residents and colleagues sit down together, alongside a “big breakfast bag” prepared for team members arriving later in the day so they can still take part.
The week also provides an opportunity to highlight the role nutrition and hydration play in overall health and wellbeing.
Dehydration in older people can increase the risk of infections, falls and hospital admissions, and is linked to reduced mobility and fatigue. Even mild dehydration can affect concentration and day-to-day wellbeing.
For people living with dementia, maintaining good hydration can be more challenging. People may forget to drink, struggle to recognise thirst or find it difficult to communicate their needs, which can lead to increased confusion and a higher risk of infections.
At Ashton Manor Care Home, mealtimes are an important part of care. Residents are supported to eat and drink in a way that works for them, with home-cooked meals prepared by the in-house chef and menus developed alongside residents to reflect their preferences.
Spending time together at the table also plays an important role. Sitting with others, taking time over meals and being part of everyday conversation can help encourage people to eat and drink more regularly, while also supporting mood and reducing isolation.
The home also supports residents with more complex needs, including those with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). Meals and drinks are adapted to the right consistency to ensure they are safe, while still being enjoyable.
Joanne Tyson, Home Manager at Ashton Manor Care Home, said:
“Hydration and nutrition are such an important part of people’s health, but it is often the small things that make the biggest difference. Sitting down together, making mealtimes relaxed and encouraging people to eat and drink in a way that feels natural really matters. That is what we try to do every day.”
Ashton Manor Care Homes’s approach reflects a wider focus on supporting residents to maintain their health, independence and quality of life through consistent, everyday care.
