NEIL
http://www.caretobedifferent.co.uk/sustaining-health/benefits-of-nutrition-and-hydration-on-care-costs/

Benefits of good Elderly Nutrition in Care Homes

This article I think makes a good point in the first sentence for any reader, it says that "Nutrition, hydration and gentle exercise can improve a whole host of ailments, reduce the costs of Care and sustain health for longer".

This article is basically about how a died is beneficial for the elderly, and the positive effects of having a healthy diet will achieve. It's more aimed towards being who work in a care home. The first point in the article is "nutrition in care homes" it says about including nutrients in their diet

• Residents enjoy stronger emotional and physical wellbeing and have more energy; it means they are easier to look after
• Fewer GP call-outs needed and less need for certain drugs
• Residents have fewer colds and infections
• Less refined sugar means fewer dental problems
• Care Needs are less intense and require less staff time

It then says about hydration, as this is a big issue for the elderly in places such as hospitals, where their not being given enough water, it says how giving them pure water more often  will do things like give them healthier skin, so less change of things like sores, they will seep better, it will give them better balance so they are less likely to fall and hurt themselves, there for less staff time required. And other things such as healthier lungs, fewer colds and headaches. I think this is an important point as just a small adjustment to their diet makes their lives so much better, they have more in dependency, and the staff wouldn't have as much work to do, so they could focus on keeping their diet up.

The last part of the article is saying about how giving the elderly little exercise can help the elderly have a better oxygen flow, again fewer falls if they are keeping their joints moving, less use of mobility equipment (saving money) and again staff don't have to work extra and the residents get more of their dignity and independence back. 

I think this is an important article as it shows how what the elderly as lacking in, they need the most and would benefit not only them, but the staff, so all is needed is a bit of extra care at the beginning to make a lot of difference later on.