Page 14 - Life Happens in the Kitchen

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SEEK DINING EXCELLENCE
Increase Intake
LIBERALIZED DIETS – The elder’s right to follow or not follow a restrictive diet as they choose. Clinical research repeatedly indicates that restricted diets do not lead to clinical improvement in the elderly, and may in fact lead to the harming effects of malnutrition and dehydration due to limited consumption. Some committed facilities have eliminated therapeutic diets altogether. Instead, they only offer traditional consistency modifications, choice in serving size and choice of foods to avoid.
FOOD FIRST – An expectation of OBRA since 1987, choosing food before supplements, and food before medication is a natural decision in culture change. With variety, accessibility and individualization, our residents eat foods of choice throughout the day, and even during the night if need be, eliminating the need for costly, and often refused, commercial supplements. Similarly, the need for laxatives is reduced and often eliminated with increased fluid intake and increased opportunities for fiber rich, bowel stimulating foods of choice. Even the need for medication for behavioral management can be reduced when elders can choose what they eat, where and when.
QUALITY SERVICE – Relationships are the key to quality caregiving and to quality service in dining. Knowing the elders, their choices, their preferences and their daily pleasures in dining results in service that encourages optimal intake. Relationship-based service is caregiving from the heart. Knowing what an elder ate, what they need to eat and knowing what to tempt them with, can make the difference between joy in dining and failure to thrive.
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