Hydration and nutrition events provide residents with food for thought

Older people across the borough of Rochdale learnt about the importance of staying hydrated and well-nourished as part of international Nutrition and Hydration Week.

Across the borough, sessions took place at lunch clubs, community hubs and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s coffee and cake sessions.

During the session’s residents learnt about the symptoms of malnutrition and dehydration and were able to try out the PaperWeight Armband.

Potentially dangerous signs of malnutrition can instantly be detected by wrapping a small strip of paper around a person’s arm. The Armband, which was first conceived in Salford three years ago, enables carers, volunteers or health and social care professionals to broach the subject of malnutrition.

The PaperWeight Armband has a defined circumference and if someone can stick the band together at the red line, and it can slide up and down the upper arm, clearly the arm circumference is less than 23.5cm which may suggest the person has a body mass index less than 20kg/m². Mid arm muscle circumference is a well-established surrogate measure for body mass index.

 

Malnutrition and dehydration are estimated to affect more than 60,000 of Greater Manchester’s over 65s. This can result in weight loss and low body weight, decreased energy levels, reduced mobility, increased likelihood of falls and ill-health, and a worsening of the ability to recover from illnesses.

There are also significant impacts on Greater Manchester’s health and care services – with malnutrition costing the region more than £1.1bn every year.

In response, the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership has invested more than half a million pounds in a Greater Manchester Nutrition and Hydration Programme. This aims to increase detection of malnutrition and dehydration in older residents and help them to make sure they eat and drink enough, including through tea parties and ‘lunch and learn’ groups. 

Sarah Price, executive lead for population health and commissioning at the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We’re proud to support Nutrition and Hydration Week across Greater Manchester.

“Weight loss is often dismissed as a natural part of ageing – but for many people, and our public services, the consequences can be serious. That’s why we’ve invested over half a million pounds in our wide-reaching nutrition and hydration programme.

“With more than 2,000 older people already engaged, 150 of whom were found to be at risk but who otherwise may have been missed, we hope the benefits are starting to be felt.” 

To find out more about the programme and for advice visit:

• www.paperweightarmband.org.uk