An exploration of hydration care for nursing home residents living with dementia

Greene, Carolynn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1170-376X, Wilson, Jennie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-9662, Tingle, Alison and Loveday, Heather ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2259-8149 (2021) An exploration of hydration care for nursing home residents living with dementia. Nursing and Residential Care, 23 (12). ISSN 1465-9301

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Abstract

Background
Older adults residing in nursing homes are vulnerable to dehydration. Residents living with dementia can experience additional challenges, making it difficult to independently consume sufficient fluids.

Aims
To describe the experience of hydration care for nursing home residents living with dementia.

Methods
Observations of hydration care were conducted between 06:00 and 22:45 on one care home unit. Twenty-two residents with dementia were eligible for observation. Conversations with staff and relatives provided further insights. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings
Hydration care provision was highly routinised with little flexibility. Residents received limited support to express individual choices, and staff missed opportunities to provide drinks. More fluid was consumed when care staff developed strategies to encourage fluid intake.

Conclusion
Key factors to optimise hydration care include providing individual support to encourage fluid intake and expression of choice; flexible care routines; and focus on communication and teamworking.

Item Type: Article
Identifier: 10.12968/nrec.2021.23.12.3
Additional Information: This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Nursing and Residential Care, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.12968/nrec.2021.23.12.3.
Keywords: Dementia care, Drinking, Hydration, Older persons, Residential care
Subjects: Medicine and health > Health promotion and public health > Care homes
Medicine and health > Nursing > Nursing practice
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Carolynn Greene
Date Deposited: 03 Dec 2021 11:53
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2024 16:08
URI: https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/8465

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