Urinary Tract Infections account for 53% of all infections in care homes, are associated with consequences including falls, emergency admissions and distress; and have a negative impact on quality of life. Low fluid intake is frequently overlooked as a risk factor for UTIs, when examining an individual’s susceptibility. This project tested an intervention designed to increase the residents’ fluid intake, and evaluated its effectiveness on a range of outcomes.
24 residents at Hill View Care Home in Clydebank took part in the study, which aimed to increase their fluid intake by 300-500ml per day for 24 weeks. In total, the participants had 51 UTIs in the six months before the project began, and in the six months of the project, this was reduced to 37.
A decrease in the number of falls was found following the introduction of Drink-Up, from 52 down to 28 – a significant decrease, despite the small sample. The results of the project have stimulated further research to investigate these findings in a larger group of residents.
The results of this project will inform updates national guidelines on The Management of Falls and Fractures in Care Homes for Older People.
