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Hydration Best Practice Toolkit for Care Homes

This toolkit has been created as part of a resource to assist care managers, care caterers and other service providers to bring the benefits of improved water consumption to older people in care and to develop best practice.

It contains factsheets, checklists and advice to enable you to improve water consumption with older people and care home staff.

	Download Toolkit
	Download pdf of full toolkit here
	Download separate documents here 1 Introduction to the toolkit 2 The health and economic benefits of providing water 3 ‘Wise up on water!’ Medical evidence for the health benefits of hydration 4 Frequently asked questions 5 Did you know? Facts about water as a nutrient 6 Practical tips for encouraging water consumption 7 Sample menu for providing adequate fluids within the care home 8 Review of existing care guidance – and recommendations 9 How good are your facilities? Facts and tips on providing fresh water 10 Hydration awareness quiz – for residents and staff 11 Hydration best practice - care home water audit

October 2005

This toolkit has been created through the valuable assistance of representatives of the following organisations, who formed the project team and provided the concepts, outline and supporting material: The National Association of Care Catering, The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, The Royal Institute of Public Health, The English Community Care Association, Help the Aged, Kingston Hospital, Leicestershire County Council, Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust, Kingston Primary Care Trust, Quantum Care Ltd, The Royal Borough of Kingston, Northumbrian Water, South Staffordshire Water and Unison.

Thanks are also due to The Department of Health, the Welsh Assembly, Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water), ERIC, The Drinking Water Inspectorate, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Age Concern and the European Point of Use Drinking Water Association for supplying additional information and guidance.

Hydration and Older People home page