Last updated on May 15th, 2024
As we age, our bodies will inevitably not function as well as they once did. Whether we start losing sight or hearing or occasionally forget things more than before, getting older isn’t something most people think they’re prepared for — but aren’t. Conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, or mobility issues also make it more challenging to do everyday tasks like getting dressed, taking care of personal hygiene, or even eating a meal. The outcome of developing these conditions is simple: you just can’t take care of yourself like you used to.
Although this is a sad thought, it’s an important one. Statistics vary, according to the Centers for Disease Control, we know that between 1-5% of older adults are depressed, but these numbers increase to almost 14% for those in more advanced levels of care. Couple this with the chronic health conditions mentioned above, and you’ve got an even higher risk of developing depression.
We know one thing that helps improve the mental health and physical well-being of today’s older adults: preserving their dignity.
In an interview with Harvard Medicine, geriatrician William Thomas, MD, sums up the current state of aging with dignity, “We’ve created a world where many millions of people get the opportunity to grow old, but at the same time, we’re draining the dignity and worth from the experience of aging.”
Since culinary excellence is what we do best, we’re strong advocates for the freedom of culinary choice for today’s older adults. The more we cater to long-term care residents’ dietary needs and preferences, the more we promote dining with dignity. Keep reading to find out how we do this at Culinary Services Group (CSG) and how you can, too.
Turning Dietary Restrictions into Opportunities for Personalized Dining
Have you ever noticed how your residents act during mealtimes, especially those requiring additional assistance with eating? Do they seem engaged, or are they quiet and not interacting with other residents? If you see more of the second scenario, it’s time to see how you can create a more enjoyable dining experience for your residents with dietary restrictions.
You can do this by reframing these limitations as opportunities for personalized dining experiences. By looking at it this way, you’re focused on empowering your residents’ strengths rather than trying to “fix” their “problems” due to their dietary restrictions. This is part of a person-centered approach to dining, something we’re passionate about at CSG. Every meal should celebrate individual tastes and preferences, not a chore.
Your staff can engage residents in meaningful conversations about their dietary needs, likes, and dislikes, involving them as you shape their dining experiences to include more of what they prefer.
In addition, offering a diverse menu that includes options that cater to specific dietary requirements while still reflecting residents’ cultural backgrounds and culinary preferences helps transform mealtimes into moments of self-determination and connection. Our nutrition experts spend a lot of time working with your staff and residents to find a food service plan that addresses your community’s specific needs.
Let’s go through some ways we can get creative with your community to promote dining with dignity.
Creativity Changes How We Eat
By getting creative with meal planning and presentation, long-term care staff in your community can completely change the dining experience for older adults. Say you have a resident who has frontotemporal dementia, limiting their fine motor skill and swallowing problems. The combination of these conditions makes it difficult to eat whole foods and use utensils that other residents may be fine with using. Instead of simply pureeing the meal and serving it to them, you could:
- Offer stabilizing or weighted utensils and cutlery
- Incorporating finger foods
- Use molds to shape pureed foods to look like their original form
- Plate the meal on a blue colored plate to help them remain calm if a meal is stressful
Another way to creatively promote dining with dignity among residents is to tap into residents’ unique backgrounds, tastes, and preferences by tailoring menus to reflect their individual identities and life stories. Have themed nights that offer different selections from a specific cuisine, like an Italian night or a vegetarian Friday, and stay updated on the latest dining trends to see what today’s older adults are interested in eating.
When residents can bond over food and individual meal plans, they help to create a sense of community that will undoubtedly grow, ultimately increasing their sense of independence and dignity.
Using Your Program to Promote Independence
Dining with dignity encompasses the breadth of experiences older adults have as they age, emphasizing that every individual, regardless of age or ability, deserves to experience mealtimes with respect, autonomy, and joy. At Culinary Services Group, we want to help you achieve this by using our meal plans and dining services to provide innovative food service management approaches.
There’s a deep connection between nutrition and your overall well-being, so improving your dining program is an investment that will holistically improve how the people residing in your senior living community function on the inside and out, where seniors can make choices that align with their health goals, desires, and values.
If helping your residents dine with dignity is a part of your strategy to improve their health and wellness this summer, schedule a consultation with a member of our sales team to discuss what options work best for your community.
