In the UK, Anglian Water has unveiled a pilot programme that will help to prevent older people suffering from dehydration.
Launched in conjunction with the Royal Institute of Public Health, the project will involve working closely with five residential care homes for the elderly to encourage residents and staff to drink more water and be aware of the problems that dehydration can cause, such as decreased levels of energy and concentration, which could result in falls, and an increase in urinary tract infections.
Dehydration in elderly people is a growing area of concern among health and care professionals. This was reaffirmed by a Royal Society for the Promotion of Health survey which revealed that older residents in care do not drink enough water to maintain good health.
Anglian Water’s own research found that not only would staff like access to further information about hydration, but the installation of a mains-fed water cooler in a local care home has resulted in a 50% reduction in falls.
The six month initiative that started in April will see Anglian install mains-fed coolers and test out promotional materials in the five selected care homes in eastern England, before reaching conclusions from anecdotal evidence, interviews and perceptions at the study’s end. It will assess the impact of the trial against various indicators, including if levels of understanding about hydration among staff, residents and their families have improved, if a reduction in falls has taken place and how expenditure has been affected.
Robert Silbermann from the Royal Institute of Public Health, one of the steering groups overseeing the project, is hopeful that it will lead to the incorporation of good practice in hydration training in all care homes. “Looking to the future,” he concluded, “it would be great to have an accreditation scheme open to all care homes in the region.”
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