Nutrition and hydration in elderly care

We’re delighted to be finalists for ‘Best for Nutrition, Food and Dining’ at the 2026 Care Home Awards – not just because it’s wonderful to see our name alongside some of the country’s best care home providers, but because nutrition has always been an area of significant focus for us. To us, it’s not a functional necessity; it’s a cornerstone of dignity, wellbeing, and quality of life.

As we age, our body changes and our energy requirements naturally decline. However, it’s still just as important to follow a balanced diet. We still need to consume enough nutrients to maintain bone and muscle strength, boost immunity, support overall health, and quite simply, maintain independence – arguably the number one goal we help our residents achieve.

But food doesn’t just play an important role in our physical health; it’s also imperative to our emotional connection, memory, and independence – and for people living with dementia, the right nutrition plan may even help slow cognitive decline.

That’s why we operate a dementia-friendly food programme at Fortava, ensuring our residents consume foods with the brain-supportive nutrients they need while preserving the comfort and familiarity of much-loved meals. We adopt a carefully considered approach that balances scientific evidence with lived experience.

Developed with chefs, our menus are filled with foods proven to support brain health and cognitive function, including whole grains, berries, citrus fruits, turmeric, nuts and seeds, oily fish, leafy greens, and legumes. It’s all about enhancing cognitive support without altering taste, dignity, or enjoyment. We also provide guidance for residents’ families on how best to incorporate these items into their loved ones’ daily diets seamlessly.

Ollie Clothier of Clothier Training & Consultancy is a key contributor to this work. With 23 years of experience in catering and nutrition – 10 of which are within health and social care – he advises our operational and care leads and heads up our recipe development. As a team, we understand our strengths in supporting those with dementia, but we also recognise that partnering with specialists often delivers the best outcomes where it matters most.

Ollie ensures that dementia-friendly ingredients are seamlessly integrated into existing dishes without compromising on flavour or presentation. He’s been instrumental in ensuring our residents eat what is right for their own health, and most importantly, see mealtimes as something to look forward to – not dread. Gone are the days of bland, tasteless meals at care homes.

This consultative approach is crucial to our nutrition work. Alongside our collaboration with Ollie, we regularly seek advice from dietitians, GPs, and mental health professionals to ensure our menus are robust and clinically appropriate. We also hold regular staff meetings to review progress and actively seek feedback from residents’ families – particularly to ensure we meet specific preferences, allergies, and cultural expectations around meals.

Innovation is at the heart of our care practice, so it’s only right we adopt a similarly progressive approach to everyday dining. Our nutrition and hydration work represents more than simply offering a new menu every day – we’re shifting the dial on how food is used as a therapeutic, dignified, and joyful part of life for people living with dementia.