The care we provide to the residents in our homes involves supporting many areas of physical and mental health, but something that should never be overlooked is the role nutrition and hydration play in maintaining overall wellness.

This week is Nutrition and Hydration Week in the UK, a yearly campaign that aims to highlight the important topics of nutrition and hydration, as well as the role they play in supporting health and wellbeing.

At Beritaz Care, nutrition and hydration are important factors we consider not only for the benefit of our residents, but also our staff. We take steps to make sure every member of Beritaz Care is receiving nutritious meals and staying well-hydrated throughout the day, putting them in the best position to stay healthy and feeling good.

Our seasonal menus are designed by the chefs in our homes to provide a nutritionally balanced diet for our residents, catering to any specific dietary needs. We make use of fresh local ingredients and provide meal options to suit a variety of tastes. Our kitchen teams play an important role in our residents’ care and work hard to maintain high Food Hygiene Ratings during our regular inspections.  Creating the right individual menu for a resident can often be the key factor in keeping on top of medical conditions or helping with recovery after an illness.

A variety of drinks are available at all times to our residents and our staff pay close attention to their hydration. Our staff are trained on the importance of hydration for our residents and we will often use activities like mocktail making or afternoon tea activities to make staying hydrated more fun.

We also love to get our residents’ input and feedback on the food and drink served at the home. We will regularly ask them what they did or didn’t like, and we welcome suggestions for any of their favourite meals they would like included on the menu. Many of our residents also enjoy being involved in preparing their own food, taking part in baking activities and even growing their own fresh produce in our gardens. Having choices in what they eat or drink is important for our residents, it helps to give them a sense of independence and autonomy.

We are passionate about nutrition and hydration at Beritaz Care, but we also understand the importance of balance. A delicious slice of cake with their afternoon tea or a glass of bubbly at a celebration are small joys that can brighten our residents’ day. At Beritaz Care we know maintaining good nutrition and hydration is something that needs to be taken seriously, but we also believe food and drink should be fun and enjoyable.