Reducing dehydration in residents of care homes

This article focuses on a specialist dementia home, Alexandra House in Great Yarmouth, which has introduced high quality hydration care of their frail residents. The nursing manager, carers, domestic assistants and proprietor talk about how they have achieved good hydration for their residents, and its impact. By working as a team, and ensuring residents take a litre of fluid by the end of their relaxed and extended breakfast, they have reduced anxiety and aggression, the atmosphere is calmer and more sociable. This creates a pleasant and positive atmosphere for residents, their visitors and for staff, and is reflected in low levels of unplanned hospital admissions and paramedic call-outs.