Fancy a Cuppa at The Old Rectory

A simple cuppa change at The Old Rectory Care Home has delivered seriously surprising results after residents swapped their usual brew for decaffeinated Tetley tea as the new default.

No fancy gadgets. No complicated tech. Just a quiet cup of tea and what happened next left the team stunned. The home launched the trial after being approached by a string of tech companies promising systems to improve sleep and prevent falls. But rather than bring in devices they weren’t comfortable using, staff took inspiration from research suggesting decaf drinks could cut falls.

“We thought why not try something we can do right now” said Cheryl Waters, Manager at The Old Rectory Care Home “We didn’t remove choice we made wellbeing the default”

Led by management and senior kitchen staff, the home introduced decaf hot drinks as standard, with residents still free to ask for caffeinated options. And far from any grumbles, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“All were happy to change to decaffeinated when the reasoning was discussed,” Cheryl said. In fact, staff say visitors often ask for decaf too proof the switch quickly became just… normal.”

And the results are Jaw-dropping. The Old Rectory tracked accident and incident reports closely, focusing on two residents who had been prone to falls and UTIs, and who were waking repeatedly during the night.

Before the switch, night-time waking was a major issue and falls were happening two to three times a month, sometimes more. Then came decaf. And the results were dramatic:

Individual 1 recorded 22 falls between January and November 2025 and none since

Individual 2 recorded 10 falls between January and September 2025 and none since the trial began in September

Staff say sleep patterns changed fast too. “One person does not wake at all at night now,” they explained, “and the other only wakes on occasions.”

Why would decaf make such a difference? The home believes the biggest factor is fewer night-time awakenings and improved bladder comfort/control meaning residents are less likely to get up repeatedly, rush, or feel unsettled overnight.

And it’s not just about falls. The team also highlighted the link between UTIs, confusion, and falls risk, explaining that reducing irritation and promoting hydration can support calmer, safer nights.

A good old cuppa, primarily Tetley decaf tea bags and ASDA’s own decaf are the most popular in a trial that is now routine and hailed the best wellbeing decision ever made.

For the care team the results are not about the statistics they’re about how it has made everyone feel. To feel calm when going to bed without the worry of needing to rush to the bathroom at night; that’s priceless.