A unique and empirically validated self-reporting Drinks Diary to record drinks intakes in individuals within residential care. The Drinks Diary can be downloaded for free to effectively record drinks intakes to help identify low fluid intake.
Information recorded may improve care by indicating need for interventions supporting drinking in older adults. It may also increase awareness of the importance of fluid intake.
Advantages
- proven to accurately report drinks intakes in able adults in care settings
- empowers individuals through self-monitoring
- identifies inadequate drinks intake
- prompts intervention to support older adults to drink more
- increases awareness of the importance of drinks intake.
Drinks Intake and Dehydration in Health Care
Dehydration is frequently a problem in elderly individuals admitted to hospital and residing in long term care homes. 20% of UK care home residents have been found to be dehydrated. Unfortunately, accurate and effective tools to record drinks intakes are limited and frequently monitored through fluid intake charts highly dependent on accurate staff reporting which is often time-consuming. Alternative, reliable and less labour-intensive monitoring methods would therefore be beneficial, and particularly important for vulnerable individuals at risk of dehydration in long term care.
Innovation for Accurately Monitoring Drinks Intake
Researchers at the University of East Anglia funded by the National Institute for Health Research have developed a novel self-reporting Drinks Diary to record an individual’s drinks intake in long term care. The Drinks Diary is proven to be at least as effective as staff reporting in care home residents who are cognitively well and able to write. The Drinks Diary is empirically validated to effectively report an individual’s drinks intake. As a unique self-reporting tool, it may empower older adults in long term care, increase awareness of the importance of achieving adequate daily drinks intakes and contribute towards optimal care.
Applications
This tool works in able adults in residential care and may also have applications in hospitals, NHS, care of the elderly, medical monitoring and research, dietetics, clinical nutrition, nursing, healthcare research, nutrition research.
Principal Investigator
Team led by Dr Lee Hooper
Further Details
For more information, please contact the IP Office.