Decaf Drinks Reduce Toilet-Related Falls by 35% in UK Care Home Trial

A new study has found that switching care home residents to decaffeinated drinks can reduce toilet-related falls by 35%, potentially saving the NHS up to £85 million per year if implemented nationwide. The trial, conducted across eight care homes in East Anglia, found that more than 90% of residents chose to switch to decaf after being informed of the potential health benefits.

The results mirror a similar initiative at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in 2021, where a 30% reduction in toileting-related falls was observed within three months of introducing decaf drinks. Sarah Coombes, a continence nurse specialist who led that study, noticed an increase in patients falling due to rushing to the toilet. She launched a 'taste the difference' challenge where decaffeinated drinks were offered as the default option.

Researchers say falls are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in people over 75, and care home residents are three times more likely to fall than those living at home. The switch to decaf also had other health benefits, such as reducing pad dependency, moisture-associated skin damage, heart palpitations, and blood pressure, as well as improving sleep quality.

Why this matters: This simple, cost-neutral solution could have a profound impact on reducing the burden on the NHS and improving the quality of life for care home residents. With over 30 NHS trusts and health boards expressing interest in replicating the initiative, it has the potential to be widely adopted and make a significant difference in fall prevention.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive at Care England, has urged care providers across the country to "give decaf a go" to address the challenge of falls and reduce pressure on the NHS. The report recommends further large-scale studies to corroborate the findings and explore the potential of decaffeinated drinks to address continence issues and prevent falls.

Key Takeaways

• Switching care home residents to decaf reduces falls by 35%, saving NHS £85M/year.
• Similar initiative at Leicester NHS Trust saw 30% fall reduction within 3 months.
• Decaf also reduces pad dependency, skin damage, heart issues, and improves sleep.
• Over 30 NHS trusts interested in replicating the decaf initiative for fall prevention.
• Further large-scale studies recommended to corroborate findings and explore decaf's potential.