Nutrition and hydration tips for older people: How Home Instead Norwich can help
Discover practical nutrition and hydration tips for older people from Home Instead Norwich.
If you’re worried about your parent or loved one not eating or drinking well, you’re not alone. Good nutrition and hydration are essential for staying healthy, especially as we age. But for many older people, maintaining a balanced diet and drinking enough fluids can become a real challenge. At Home Instead Norwich, we know how important it is to help older adults live well at home, and we’re here to support you with practical tips, guidance as well as our care at home services.
Why nutrition and hydration matter
Did you know that in Norwich, 43% of adults don’t eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day? Eating well and staying hydrated are key to keeping energy levels up, supporting the immune system, and maintaining focus and clarity. Yet, it’s not always easy to meet these needs. Add to that the fact that dehydration can lead to fatigue, confusion, and an increased risk of falls, and it’s clear just how important good nutrition and hydration are for older people.
Common challenges older people face
As we age, several factors can make it harder to stay on top of eating and drinking. You might notice some of these challenges with your loved ones:
- Reduced appetite: It’s common for older adults to feel less hungry due to changes in metabolism or lower activity levels.
- Swallowing difficulties (Dysphagia): Conditions like dysphagia can make eating and drinking physically challenging.
- Mobility and memory Issues: Struggling to get around the kitchen or simply forgetting to drink can lead to skipped meals or dehydration.
- Changes in taste and smell: These senses naturally decline with age, which can make food less appealing.
These challenges can affect your loved one’s health and well-being, but with the right support, they can often be overcome.
Tips for Families
If you’re supporting a loved one at home, here are some simple tips to encourage better eating and drinking:
- Make food appealing: Use colourful ingredients and attractive presentation to make meals more inviting.
- Offer smaller, frequent meals: If big meals feel overwhelming, try smaller portions spread throughout the day.
- Keep drinks handy: Place water or other favourite drinks within easy reach, and offer a variety of options to keep things interesting.
- Get creative: Smoothies, soups, and even ice lollies can be great ways to add nutrition and hydration.
- Seek support: If you’re worried about your loved one’s diet, do ask for professional help.
How Home Instead Norwich can help
At Home Instead Norwich, we are committed to helping older people in our city live their best lives at home. Nutrition and hydration are a big part of this, and we make sure our care plans are tailored to each person’s needs. Here’s how we can help:
- Cooking meals to suit individual tastes: Whether it’s preparing a hot meal from scratch or recreating favourite family recipes, or just something our client fancies – we’ll go the extra mile!
- Encouraging hydration: From ensuring drinks are always within easy reach to offering creative options like smoothies, flavoured waters or a jelly as a desert, we help keep hydration levels up.
- Catering to special diets: If your loved one has specific dietary needs – whether it’s for dysphagia or a health condition – we can adjust our approach to ensure they’re safe and comfortable.
- Making mealtimes enjoyable: Our Care Professionals can support bringing back a routine around mealtimes, and provide companionship during meals, turning them into something to look forward to.
Promoting Nutrition and Hydration
As part of Nutrition and Hydration Week, our Care Professionals took part in a fun and educational Steady Cook Challenge. Gail and Denise demonstrated how to plate appealing, colourful, and easy-to-eat meals for clients, explaining their choices to fellow Care Professionals. Both did an excellent job showcasing practical tips!
Learning together: Sharing team tips and ideas
At Home Instead Norwich, all of our Care Professionals complete our industry-leading training and ongoing development – and we’re always looking for ways to improve and learn. This winter, our Care Professionals came together for some fun workshops to refresh our knowledge, share experience and ideas around nutrition and hydration. Here’s what’s been happening at our Norwich office this month:
– Ready, Steady, Cook!: Learning to plate up meals in ways that look as good as they taste. A little creativity can go a long way in boosting appetite.
– Dysphagia awareness: Gaining hands-on experience with thickened drinks and exploring how to make mealtimes easier and safer for clients with swallowing difficulties.
– Dementia-friendly Christmas mocktails: Getting festive with hydrating, delicious drinks that are designed to also appeal to those living with dementia.
– Recipe exchange: Sharing favourite recipes among our team and picking up fresh ideas to bring to our clients’ kitchens.
Let us help
At Home Instead Norwich, we know how much of a difference good nutrition and hydration can make to our health and how we feel. Our local team of Care Professionals can provide thoughtful, compassionate support, whether it’s preparing meals, encouraging hydration, or simply offering a friendly face at mealtimes.
If you’re worried about your loved one not eating or drinking well, we are here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our home care services, and how we can support your family to start a conversation about care at home. Together, we can make sure your loved one stays happy, healthy, and well at home.
Learn more about our local home care services by calling us on 01603 963317 or for job opportunities apply online to become a Care Professional in Norwich.
