Home Instead's Stay Nourished Campaign welcomes arrival of summer!

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With a range of educational workshops and activity sessions in Chiswick, Hammersmith, and Fulham. (Ad)

The summer weather is finally here!

While we look forward to fun full days and long evenings; significant portion of our seniors struggle to cope with the heat. During hot weather, older people are at higher risk of serious health complications like a heat stroke but also at increased risk of dehydration and malnutrition.

In the summer of 2018, Home Instead carried out a YouGov survey on eating habits of older people.

The result was:-

• Over a third of over 75s (34%) regularly skip meals (i.e. once a week or more), nearly 1 in 10 on a daily basis (9%).
• 8% of over 75s say that most of their meals are pre-packed microwave meals, with 1 in 10 (10 %) sometimes relying on takeaway food.
• 9% of over 65s often snack rather than having proper meals
• Less than 1 in 8 (12%) over 75s have lost weight
• 14% over 75s drink less water
• More than 1 in 8 (13%) of over 65s say they have less money to spend on food
• Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) over 65s struggle to cook their own food, with 6% admitting it was due to frailty a disability. relying on takeaway food.

While the result was alarming , we are witnessing even direr situation due to the residual effects of the pandemic, isolation and decline in community support services.

In response to this and marking British Nutrition Foundation’s ‘Healthy Eating’ week we are launching our ‘Stay Nourished’ Campaign. We are holding a range of educational workshops and activity sessions in Chiswick, Hammersmith, and Fulham.

In preparation for the campaign, we asked our Care Professionals to tell us about their and their clientele’s nutritional habits.

More than three quarters (76%) of Care professionals prepare meals for their clients and 53% Care Professionals involve in food shopping. The results highlighted an interesting pattern where Care Professionals are heavily involved in preparing meals.

Inline to various workshop for our care professionals we also want to share the most updated knowledge with the wider community, senior citizens and family Carers.

What better way to start than now, just when the heat wave season is knocking.

What is included in the “stay Nourished” campaign?

We are aiming to nourish body and mind!

• Nutrition workshops for Care Professionals and family Carers, covering most up-to-date research and government guidelines on providing nutrition support for elderly and people living with dementia. Sessions on practical tips for shopping, budgeting, label reading and meal preparation packed with fun activities.
• Regular Afternoon Tea with performers to nourish the soul
• Chair-based exercise sessions to help our elderly maintain physical mobility
• Mindfulness and relaxation sessions to nourish the mind

The first workshops and sessions will be on Tuesday 18th July (Healthy Eating, 2pm-4pm) and on Thursday 27th July (Relaxation and chair-based exercise, 2pm-4pm) at the Chiswick Town Hall. If you are interested in joining any of our activities and booking your spot, please contact us on 020 8746 1213 or email us tokris@hc.homeinstead.co.uk.

Written by
Kris Dulnik AfN, Registered Associate Nutritionist and Trainer/Engagement Officer at Home Instead

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June 20, 2023