Nutrition and hydration

1 in 10 people over the age of 65 are at risk of malnutrition and dehydration, which means they aren’t eating or drinking well enough to maintain good health and wellbeing.

Being malnourished and/or dehydrated increases the risk of illness, means older people are more likely to be admitted to hospital, and spend longer there.

There are lots of reasons why someone might be at risk of malnutrition, such as loneliness, lack of ability to buy and prepare food, or other conditions such as dementia, which may cause a person to forget to eat or drink regularly.

Anyone who works with or speaks to older people in Trafford can access free training on how to spot the signs of malnutrition and dehydration. Free booklets and resources are available to give to people who might benefit from them.

The training is available online on Age UK Salford and the resources are available by contacting Age UK Trafford.