Healthy eating and drinking for the elderly at Addenbrooke's

Elderly patients at Addenbrooke's are benefiting from specialist nutritional help to aid a quicker recovery. On the elderly medical wards, dedicated nutrition assistants work closely with patients to make sure they are drinking enough and eating a healthy balanced diet - two factors which play a vital part in a patient's recovery.

Mark Cubitt, senior clinical nurse, says: "All our staff are committed to making sure that patients' nutrition is taken seriously - but some elderly patients have much more complex physical needs. The nutrition assistants work with these individuals to make sure they receive the right meal at the right time. Our goal is to ensure every patient within the unit receives an individually tailored service."

The assistants work closely with the patient, their family, the nursing team, dietitians and other care specialists.

It is not uncommon for elderly patients to come to hospital with dietary problems such as weight loss and poor appetite leading to malnutrition - the two nutrition assistants, Karen Brogan and Janet Harvey, work with dietitians to address such issues. They also provide help for patients who may have swallowing difficulties or problems holding cutlery - even down to something as simple as getting the table at the right height.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day are accompanied by regular drinks rounds and snacks. Set menus are in place but there is flexibility - patients can ask for alternative meals. A menu presented in picture form is being introduced to further assist patients with communication difficulties.

"Nutrition assistants have proved to be very successful," says Mark. "Their work brings down the length of stay and that's hugely beneficial for the patients."