Leeds Older People Food Matter
Hydration Campaign
Emma Strachan
Health Improvement
Specialist (Food)
NHS Leeds
Aims and Objectives
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To introduce the governance arrangements for older
people focused work in Leeds
To share information on the Leeds Food consensus
and the underpinning principles within the
consensus.
To give an overview of the development and
implementation of the dehydration awareness
campaign throughout June this year
To share the groups next steps and plans for the
forth coming year
Older People and Food Work in Leeds
Shadow Health and Well- Being Board
Outcome: People will live full, active and independent lives
Priority: Increase the number of people supported to live safely in their own home
Indicator: Rate of hospital admissions for care that could have been provided in the community
Aging Well Board
Outcome: Improve the health and wellbeing of older people in Leeds.
Priority: Promote Health and Active aging
Information and advice about the importance of good nutrition and adequate hydration should be readily available.
All advice should be clear, easy to understand and be consistent with the principles of the Leeds Food
Consensus Statement for older people.
Leeds Older People Food
Aim: Develop a coordinated approach to food work for older people based on needs
Objective: Ensure key food messages relevant to older people are promoted
Older People in Leeds
According to Bapen 14% of population aged
65yrs and over are malnourished
Over 65 population in Leeds =115,246
Therefore 14% = 16,134 malnourished older
people in Leeds
Introduction to the Food Consensus
Diverse nutritional needs of older person in community
both
Nutritionally ‘well’
Nutritionally ‘vulnerable’
Seeking to ensure consistent evidence based, person
centred, food messages for older people
Leeds Food Consensus
Why develop a consensus:
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Keep the public nutritional well
Act for those who are nutritional vulnerable
Ensure consistency of message
Raise awareness that nutrition is not just about food
Raise awareness that nutrition is part of everyone’s business
Older People and Food Action Plan
Objective:
Ensure key food and drink messages relevant
to older people are promoted
Action:
Plan, develop and evaluate a dehydration awareness
campaign for Older People. Undertaking campaign
activities that particularly link to the self management
agenda and the Integrated Health and Social Care
demonstration sites.
Why focus on Dehydration
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Dehydration has serious health and well-being consequences
One of the key principles of the Food Consensus which often
gets lost
In 2009 1.9 million was spent on treating people admitted to
hospital with symptoms of dehydration. In 2010/11 4.9 million
was spent treating urinary tract infections
The importance of hydration is recognised in Care Quality
Commissions – Essential Standards of quality and safety under
outcome 5 which seeks to ensure that nutritional needs are met
National Association of Care Catering announced that they
would be re-running there Dehydration Hydration in Older
People Awareness Week
Build on good practice and recommendations from last year’s
work
2011/12 Hydration Campaign
recommendations
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Actively support a repeat of dehydration awareness
week next year, over a longer period of time for
example the full month of June.
Obtaining some feedback from frontline workers on
resources, tools and information they require to raise
awareness of the importance of keeping properly
hydrated.
Sending information packs to all GP surgeries,
Sheltered Housing and Neighbourhood Network
Schemes.
Hydration Campaign 2012
What we did?
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Obtained a budget of 8K (actually spent £5,435)
Developed a plan in partnership between Public Health, Leeds
Community Health Care and Leeds City Council
Pooled existing resources
Held a focus group with key frontline staff to hear there views on new
tools and resources which were required (January 12)
Developed new resources
Developed a communication plan for the campaign across LCC and
NHS
Consulted with key partners
Shared information packs during National “Dehydration Awareness
Week”
Evaluated the information in the packs
Focus Group findings
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Information in the existing Spotting Signs of
Dehydration Leaflet was good, but this needed to be
simplified
Big myths around drinking and incontinence
Important to think about how drinks are served and
not simply focus on how often drinks are often
Suggestion to develop a tool to audit drinks taken
and act as prompt to remind the older person to
have a drink
Important to share the information amongst all
organisations who work with older people across the
community, health and social care settings
Resources included in the Pack
Spotting Signs of Dehydration
Drinking more for Dryness
Including the Support and Enable
message
Quiz
How many glasses of fluids should you drink each day for good health?
□1–2 □3–4 □6–8
How should you drink your daily fluids intake?
□ All at once
□ Little sips regularly
How long can you live without fluids?
□ About 1 week
□ About 1 month
□ Big mouthfuls
□ About 1 year
Which of these is not a sign of dehydration?
□ Headache
□ Irritability
□ Tiredness
□ Sprained Ankle
What is the ideal colour for urine to be if you are well hydrated?
□ Light Brown
□ Dark Yellow
□ Pale Yellow/Clear
Who did we distribute the packs to?
Pack was available via:
 The Public Health Resource Centre for staff to collect
 One pack sent to each GP practice and Pharmacy
across Leeds
 Packs sent to all Leeds Community Health Care
services
 Packs shared amongst Adult Social Care
 Packs circulate to Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust
 Packs shared with Integrated Health and Social Care
Teams
Integrated Health and Social Care
Teams
•GP practices across Leeds
are starting to use the tool
to identify patients at risk of
becoming more unwell/
needing more care
Person receiving
care
and support
Systematic self-management
•First three demonstrator
sites now working together
• Initial focus on people with
long-term conditions
Other resources
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Support poster - NACC
Food Consensus leaflets
Lanyards
DVD of resources
Drinks Tracker Tool
Drinks Tracker
Evaluation
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Tools and packs have enabled lots of new
partnerships i.e. links to training opportunities
Quiz enabled staff to test knowledge
Resources were welcomed and used in many
different ways to creating displays in patient waiting
areas to briefing staff and older people on the key
messages
Resources were described as high quality and
needed
Currently finalising end of campaign report, hoping to
retest awareness in January as 6 month review.
Award Winners
In September we were awarded the National
Association of Care Caterings Hydration
Award for out work
This has really helped us to raise awareness of
the agenda and to obtain funding for future
campaigns
Groups next steps
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Launching a malnutrition campaign to coincide
with the Nutrition Day organised by NACC
Continuing to champion the Older People and
Food agenda by promoting the Leeds Food
Consensus
Undertaking some food access work to enable
older people to access food and drink right for
their stage of life particularly during the winter
months
Thank you
Any Questions