Nutrition and hydration stations are to be installed at Buckingham Lodge, Anchor’s new residential care home in Aylesbury, which welcomed its first residents this week.

Anchor, a not-for-profit provider of housing and care to older people, is installing the stations at Buckingham Lodge as part of an initiative that will eventually see them fitted in all Anchor care homes.

The stations will be stocked with a variety of snacks and soft drinks to enable residents to graze all day, ensuring everyone in the care home is hydrated and well fed at all times.

Wendy Luck, Home Manager at Buckingham Lodge care home, said: “Loss of weight is a real issue for older people nationwide, whether they are living in a care home or in their own homes. These new nutrition and hydration stations will encourage Buckingham Lodge residents to remain hydrated, especially on hot days.

“They’re also particularly beneficial for people living with dementia, many of whom like to wander; the stations provide easy access to food and drinks throughout the home so that residents can move around freely, maintaining their independence and receiving the nutrients they need.”

Buckingham Lodge will be the first Anchor care home to feature the nutrition and hydration stations. However, the company intends to include the stations as standard in all of its new care homes, including Moore Place and Clayburn Court which are due to open later this year.

Richard Herne, Anchor’s Catering Manager, commented: “These nutrition and hydration stations are a fantastic development, which reflects Anchor’s ethos of giving residents as much control as possible over their day-to-day decisions.”

www.anchor.org.uk