A new NHS resource, aimed at helping care home residents with common eating and drinking issues, is now live and ready to download.
The Kent Manual for Mealtimes has been developed by NHS speech and language therapists and dietitians and is designed to help people living in care homes get support to improve their mealtime experience, helping avoid complications and even hospital admissions.
The free manual from Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) provides step-by-step instructions for care home staff on identifying what may be causing problems for people with eating, drinking or swallowing, and provides tips and advice to help. There are easy-to-complete forms to record actions and track progress, which can be used as evidence for auditing or Care Quality Commission inspections. There is also advice on end-of-life care.
Speech and Language Therapy Team Manager for KCHFT, Liz Gould, said: “We have hundreds of care homes in Kent, supporting thousands of residents with daily life.
“Many of these care homes are looking after people who are living with dementia or frailty and staff naturally worry about how to support them. The manual guides carers to identify common issues and then gives them clear, practical advice on what they can do to support the resident and help them stay well in their home.
“Issues such as trouble swallowing or being disinterested in food, can often be improved by making small changes, for example to the way the person is sitting, or the environment meals are served in.
“It can also help to reduce distressing incidents such as choking on food or refusing to eat.
“If problems are not resolved, or are more complex, the manual explains how and when to refer to the NHS for further support.”
Katja Day, Nutrition and Hydration Lead from Lulworth House care home in Maidstone, said: “We have been using the Kent Manual for Mealtimes with our residents and it has become a really invaluable resource for us when supporting people with eating, drinking and swallowing. Staff have become more confident to support residents and we have reduced referrals to the NHS.”
The manual is free to download and comes with a short training video, along with food and drink recommendations sheets that can be personalised for each resident.
Download the Kent Manual for Mealtimes and training resources here: Kent Manual for Mealtimes | Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust