Mocktails Anyone at Laverstock Care Centre

At Laverstock Care Centre in Salisbury, making sure we have enough to drink and staying healthy and hydrated is always important for our elderly residents, who for many reasons may not be able to tell when they are getting dehydrated. It can sometimes be a challenge but it is one which our team have risen to by creating an in-house ‘Mocktails Mobile Bar’ and a range of drinks such as juices, fruit based drinks and mock cocktails are offered to our residents.This is a new activity that takes place three times a week; each day focuses on one floor. This is our new and exciting way to encourage our resident’s fluids intake and gives them something bright and tasty to look forward to. Hannah our Activities Coordinator (in the photo) runs the activity and incorporates it with her 1-2-1’s as she spends time with our residents going around the floor with the Bar on Wheels.Home Manager, Helen Pessell explained that there has been extensive research into hydration and the ageing process and there are many best practice guidelines introduced to ensure those with increased mental and physical frailty are not put at increased risk of dehydration. Organisations including the NHS and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have recently stressed the importance of drinking enough, particularly among the elderly and highlighted the threat to good health if this does not happen.Older people are vulnerable to dehydration due to physiological changes leading to a reduced sensation of thirst. This can be more pronounced in those with Alzheimer’s disease or those who have suffered a stroke. Thirst in older people may not be relied on as an indicator of dehydration and many residents need to be encouraged and helped to drink regularly.Hannah commented: “We are coming up with lots of different drinks for everyone to try and have purchased fun props, bottles, glasses and straws to make the whole thing more fun. We have a menu to choose from which continues to grow following our residents’ feedback and we have since included white wine spritzers and lager shandy.”“Of course we still offer teas and coffees but we are encouraging alternative options. The mobile bar looks fantastic and our residents seem to be really enjoying the variety on offer. We have been monitoring the progress in the last few weeks and are pleased with the impact on our residents’ hydration as well as being a fun activity.”Helen Pessell, Home Manager said “I am really proud of the team as we have worked with the whole issue of hydration, not necessarily as a problem, but as an opportunity to look at our way of working and to change and improve it for our residents’ benefit.”Laverstock Care Centre is a modern purpose built care home situated in the medieval cathedral City of Salisbury offering residential, nursing and dementia care for up to 80 elderly residents.To find out more about Laverstock Care Centre and life at the home, please contact us on 0808 223 5520 or email [email protected].[gallery size="full" ids="20111,20110"]