Drink up – local care home helps Knebworth community to stay hydrated

Home news

Jun 25, 2021

A Knebworth care home is serving up advice to support older people in the community this summer.

Care UK’s Knebworth, on London Road, has been sharing its top tips from its free ‘Nutrition and Hydration’ booklet, packed with nutritious recipes and practical advice for how to stay hydrated.

Written by Care UK’s highly-qualified catering team, the booklet covers every aspect of hydration, from why older people are more likely to suffer from dehydration, to how to create drinks for people who may have lost the triggers that tell us we’re thirsty. It also includes special recipes that residents at Knebworth enjoy on a regular basis, from garnished flavoured waters and mocktails, to strawberry iced tea and fruit puree drinks – perfect for the summer season.

As well as drinks, the booklet also offers information about good food sources for hydration, such as watermelon, lettuce or tomato. The booklet has been sent to all Care UK’s homes and a special version has been made available for local people to download free of charge.

Care UK’s Hotel Services Manager, James Clear, who helped design the booklet, said: “Every single person working in our homes has a role to play in ensuring that residents living there are properly hydrated. From a maintenance person sitting down with a resident for a mid-morning cuppa to a carer encouraging people to have a piece of fruit as a snack, every interaction helps. With this in mind, I wanted to make sure that our teams have accurate, easy to access information to brush up their knowledge and I think this booklet does just that.”

Vera Moreira-Henocq, Home Manager at Knebworth, added: “Hydration is incredibly important for overall health and wellbeing, especially for older people, and with temperatures rising, we are pleased to share our tips and advice for staying hydrated throughout the summer months and beyond.

“It can be tricky for those caring for a loved one to ensure they drink plenty when the weather warms up, but our guide is packed with recipes and practical tips to help, including focusing on the presentation of the drinks by using their favourite cup or adding a garnish.

“We’d like to encourage local people to download their own copy of the guide and to reach out to us if they need any further support.”

As well as the publication of the booklet, Care UK home teams and residents across the country are also being invited to enjoy the sunny weather and throw a garden party – accompanied by delicious food and drink lovingly prepared by their chefs.

To download your free copy of the guide, click here.

Knebworth delivers a full range of residential care for older people, including short-term respite care, nursing care and specialist care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

For more information on Knebworth, please call Customer Relations Manager, Paula Brown, on 01438 893411, or email  paula.brown@careuk.com 

For general information please visit careuk.com/care-homes/knebworth