By Andy Jones: Twelfth Nutrition and Hydration Week commences today.
Planning has taken place around the country in NHS Trusts and care homes with a view to holding events to promote their good practices and key messages on food and drink for those they care for. There are many others around the world also looking to take part especially around the Wednesday, 15th, when Afternoon Tea is the focus.
The week is also continuing focus on the following aims:
- Promoting the 10 Key Characteristics for Good Nutritional Care.
- Promoting Mealtimes Matter and Protected mealtimes.
- Encouraging the introduction of Nutrition Advocates /Champions to each health and Social Care Setting.
- The introduction of minimum standards for good nutrition in all settings.
- Sharing Good nutrition and hydration practice.
- Promoting Continued Education and Professional Development especially in the health and social care sector for catering staff.
- Improve staff awareness of their own hydration and nutritional requirements.
The three founders of the week – Caroline Lecko, Andy Jones and Derek Johnson provide their thoughts below.
Caroline Lecko commented: “We are amazed and inspired by the lengths people go to support those they care for every year when they highlight their good practices and new innovations. The management and staff teams go the extra mile to grasp the opportunity to highlight and share their great work.”
Andy Jones added: “Its brilliant to see how the week has grown into a global event, and the willingness of people to continue to collaborate across continents has been fantastic. The week is the focal point of the year for many in highlighting their services.”
Derek Johnson added further by saying: “The week has been fantastic in sharing ideas, highlighting great work and providing a platform for people to promote their own services. The collaboration between professionals and across heath and care has been tremendous and long may this continue.”
The Week has also seen other promotions take place during the year with a social media based Thirsty Thursday in May and June providing tips on good hydration and the focus switches to Mealtimes Matter in October with a tip a day on how to embedded these in health and social care.
To provide a brief flavour of what is happening during the week:
Love British Food have teamed up with the week to further promote British Food and have produced some resources to assist in the promotion of the week. Details here.
NAPA released a toolkit to help care homes etc to take part in the week and further embed the good nutrition and hydration message. Details of the toolkit can be found here.
NHS Orkneys are keen to promote good nutrition and hydration through a series of social media posts during the week, these are the areas they are promoting Monday – introduction to nutrition and hydration week, Tuesday – breakfast, Wednesday – benefits and tips of getting your 5 a day, Thursday – eat the rainbow including recipes, Friday – hydration, Saturday – dietetic services, Sunday – Review of the week and key messages.
The British Dietetic Association members are involved and will be sharing ideas throughout the week.
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists will once again, be utilising the week to share their key messages and Wednesday with be Swallowing Awareness Day. Details here.
The week is truly global as the week started with Tasmania and Australia starting this week off. Live view Care Home in Melbourne have a week of events planned along with other members. Not to be out done the Canadians have events planned with the CSNM leading the way.
Further details of the legacy that Nutrition and Hydration Week is building across health and social care can be found here.
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