Defending Our Care Homes with Nutrition and Safety Protocols

Covid-19 has created the biggest challenge the care sector has ever had to overcome and we have worked tirelessly to fortify the defenses of the care homes we work with. However, for years the care sector has had dangers and sometimes invisible enemies to defend against; the current pandemic for many has been a wakeup call to ‘up the ante’ on how we look after residents and those who care for them.

You Are What You Eat

It’s one of the most well know phases around, but nothing could be more true. Our purpose at Cedar Revive has always been to improve the lives of those requiring care and supporting those who provide it; we recognised very early on that the fastest way to do this is through nutrition.

Malnutrition has many social and medical causes, which creates many social and medical consequences. These consequences during a time of global infection can, as we have seen, be deadly. The following list summarises some of the issues that can be faced:

• Delayed wound healing
• Longer rehabilitation
• Loss of temperature regulation
• Apathy
• Depression
• Pressure sores
• Falls
• Reduced cognition
• Increased frailty
• Decreased mobility
• Reduced respiratory function
• Decreased immunity
• Disease: cancer, heart failure, stroke, dysphagia
• Increased morbidity

As you can see, this is an area of care where pro-activity is vital.

We have successfully implemented our ‘Catering Management System’ across the care homes we work with that helps tackle these issues. It provides the tools, education and, when required, personnel to provide a nourishing and exciting catering programme. Find out more here.

Recovering from Isolation

Part of protection against the Covid-19 virus has involved the isolation of care home residents, as well as significant changes to social interaction within the homes. These actions were vital, but have physical and mental consequences of their own, which have now to be overcome.

Re-introducing previously typical dining room experiences and other care activities has involved considerable thought and preparation. This has resulted in a unique set of protocols that has received unanimous backing from both Care Home Managers and the Care Inspector.

For the restarting of the dining room service we spoke to the care home managers and carried out a risk assessment on the processes needed to carry out the safe reopening of the dining room to residents. The dining experience is so beneficial for the residents wellbeing that we needed to have the option for the residents to be back in the dining room as soon as it was safe to do so. Eating together is an important social activity for the residents and whilst it needs to be at a suitable social distance, just now it will help with getting back into a routine for coming into the dining room. For the residents who aren’t eating in the dining room there are other areas being set up for eating together. We are providing a plated trolley service for these residents to ensure their meals arrive hot and well presented.

We have looked at the safety of the staff, the servery area, the dining room and trolley service. So Cedar Revive and the care homes we work with are now confident in our immediate path ahead.

Find Out More

If you would like to find out more about the protocols we have designed and how your loved one’s nutrition plays a vital role in their physical and mental wellbeing, please contact us today. One of our care experts would be delighted to chat with you.