Being well-nourished is a core component of maintaining good health.¹ Poor nutrition can have detrimental effects on energy levels, alertness, mobility, steadiness and healing. If you have good nutritional levels you are less likely to require medication, have a reduced risk of falling and have fewer incontinence issues.
In terms of diet related issues in the UK, malnutrition costs £13b per year and affects 10% of the elderly population or 1 in 3 adults admitted to hospitals or care homes.² Key reasons why a person may experience malnutrition is that they may find it difficult to eat due to ill-fitting dentures or they may suffer from a dry mouth making swallowing quite painful.
If you, or someone you know, suffer from malnutrition take a look at some of these practical tips guided by Age UK:²
- Encourage small frequent meals (every 2-3 hours)
- Ensure the texture of the food is correct for the individual. If someone suffers from a dry mouth it is advised to eat foods with a sauce to help prevent discomfort
- Avoid imposing your own preferences
- Aim for one pint of full cream milk per day
- If oral discomfort is causing issues with eating, make an appointment with your dentist
According to NHS Choices we should aim to drink 6-8 glasses or 1.2 litres.³ However, taste, the fear of increased toilet visits and forgetfulness are all reasons why we don’t always drink as much water as what we should. Furthermore, as we age our thirst sensation can reduce and it is estimated that 25% of the older generation suffer from mild chronic dehydration.
Water is a key nutrient for life and has been proven to help with the management and prevention of a number of medical conditions:²
Diabetes – Dehydration can worsen diabetes. Good hydration can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Falls – Dehydration has been identified as one of the risk factors of falling due to a deterioration in mental state and an increase in the risk of dizziness and fainting.
Skin – Drinking water helps keep our skin healthy and younger-looking. Mild dehydration can cause the skin to appear dry and loose, with a loss of elasticity.
Oral health – Drinking water can help manage the symptoms of dry mouth as it can create more saliva to help wash away food causing bacteria. Furthermore a lot of tap water throughout the UK contains fluoride to help prevent tooth decay. This process is called fluoridation.
If you feel like your oral health is affected by not drinking enough water there are products out there that can help. The Oralieve Dry Mouth Relief product range helps supplement the same natural enzyme system as saliva to provide moisture where you need it most. To browse through our range of products simply click here.
- Hydrate for Health. The importance of maintaining good hydration in older people. Available from http://www.hydrateforhealth.co.uk/importance-maintaining-good-hydration-older-people/. Accessed on 15/03/18.
- Nutrition, Malnutrition and Hydration. AgeUK. Available from https://www.ageuk.org.uk/brandpartnerglobal/westcumbriavpp/documents/target%20wellbeing/nutrition,%20malnutrition%20and%20hydration%20induction.pdf. Accessed on 15/03/18.
- Six to eight glasses of water ‘still best’. NHS Choices. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/six-to-eight-glasses-of-water-still-best/. Accessed on 15/03/18.