Nutricia and Carers UK have worked together to produce a range of informative leaflets for carers on looking after the health and nutrition of themselves and the person they care for.
Good nutrition can help the body to maintain and improve strength, stay mobile and keep up independence, but illness, stress and old age can put a strain on the body. Good nutrition is therefore very important for both you as a carer, and for the person you care for. The following leaflets provide information on what good nutrition is and how to help both yourself and the person you care for to eat well.
Under each subtitle below are links to the Nutricia booklets which can be downloaded free of charge. However, if you wish to order paper copies of the leaflets, please visit Carers UK website
Speaking to your GP
Carers often worry about the nutritional intake of the person they care for. If you have concerns it is important to seek help from their GP. Use this booklet to help prepare for your discussion regarding the health and nutritional intake of the person you care for with their GP.
Eating well and cancer
If the person you care for has cancer, it is more important than ever that they eat well. This booklet is for anyone caring for a person with cancer and provides useful information and tips on how to help them eat well.
Eating well and COPD
COPD can have an effect on the whole body and, if the person you care for has COPD, it is more important than ever that they eat well. This booklet is for anyone caring for a person with COPD and provides useful information and tips on how to help them eat well.
Eating well and Stroke
Being well nourished is important in recovering from a stroke. Many people who have had a stroke, however, find it more difficult to get the food and drink they need in the right balance. This booklet is for anyone caring for a person following a stroke and provides useful information and tips on how to help them eat well.
Eating well with Dementia
Many people living with dementia may experience a change in their relationship with food, eating and drinking. As dementia progresses, the behavioural, emotional and physical changes that occur can make eating and drinking more difficult. This booklet is for anyone caring for a person with dementia and provides useful information and tips on how to help them eat well.
The importance of eating well for carers
As a carer, eating a balanced diet is essential to provide your body with all the nutrients it needs. A balanced diet will keep your body strong and give you enough energy to provide the best care for the person you are caring for and yourself. This booklet is for carers to help them understand what a balanced diet looks like and how to fit it into your lifestyle.
Understanding the nutrition gap and how it affects the person you care for
During times of illness, or when recovering from an operation or recent infection, many people can find it difficult to eat enough food, which can result in unexpected weight loss. If the body is not provided with enough food over a period of time it could suffer from a nutrition gap, also known as ‘undernutrition.’ Healthcare professionals may also refer to this as malnutrition. This booklet explains how a nutrition gap develops and how nutritional intake can be improved.
The role of good nutrition when caring for someone
Many people, when living with a medical condition, recovering from an illness or operation, or even as they get older, may find they cannot eat as much as usual and sometimes lose weight. This booklet is for carers and provides general information about how to help the person you’re caring for to eat well, and what to do if they are not.