The two associations have joined forces to help raise awareness of the importance of good nutritional care, which includes hydration, in all social and health care settings throughout the UK.
The Day next March will focus on providing vital advice and guidance to health and social professionals on the action that can be taken to help prevent under-nutrition and dehydration.
The Office of National Statistics has indicated that both malnutrition and dehydration are factors that are cited in the cause of death of over 420 people in social and health care settings every year.
The HCA and NACC will provide information and supporting materials which can be used to promote good practice for all those working in these settings.
These will also be used to highlight to patients and customers the dangers of becoming malnourished or dehydrated and how to avoid suffering from these conditions.
The overall aim of the day is to illustrate how, by making positive changes to eating and drinking habits, people can improve their quality of life.
The benefit of the campaign to professionals and staff within social and healthcare settings will be to highlight the preventive role they can play in catalysing a reduction in malnutrition related illnesses that often require complex treatments, prolong recovery periods, delay hospital discharges and increase NHS costs.
Karen Oliver, NACC chairman (pictured left) said: “We are proud to launch the first combined Nutrition Day. It’s important to understand how much food and fluid is required on a daily basis, how this can be increased and what good practices to follow are.
“I call upon all involved in social and health care to play their part in helping us to promote this vital element of good nutritional care up and down the country.
“Many social and health care staff are in a position to help monitor the health of older people and it is vital we ensure they have the awareness and tools to provide the care our vulnerable patients and service users deserve.”
Janice Gillan, HCA chair commented “With a more integrated partnership working between health and social care, it was a logical move to work with the NACC on promoting this vital core activity for health and social care.
“There is also a strong economic argument for supporting people with good nutrition and hydration.
“Evidence suggests that dehydration can lead to increased hospital stay, and increased readmission rates.”
Nutrition Day will promote the following initiatives and practices:
* The 10 Key Characteristics for Good Nutritional Care
* Utilising Nutrition Advocates for each health or social care setting
* The minimum standards for good nutrition in the respective settings
* Highlighting Good Nutrition Practices
* Highlighting Good Hydration Practices