Picture this: you walk into a nice restaurant – it feels calm, pleasant, and inviting. Everything has been designed to put you in the mood for eating.
What does the dining room in that restaurant look like? How does it put you in the mood for eating? How can we translate the look and feel of the restaurant experience in our aged care facilities?
Food Solutions Diet Consultants believe that shining a spotlight on enhancing the dining experience in aged care facilities will result in optimization of nutritional intake.
This will in turn, optimise resident health and well-being, and ultimately, save time and resources for facilities.
Here are our ten (10) top tips based on our many years’ experience conducting Mealtime Experience Reviews in facilities across the nation:
1: Prepare the mind and body for what’s to come with a menu
2: Do the crockery, placemats and tablecloths contrast well with each other so that the residents can see their food clearly? Do they co-ordinate well together?
3: Is everything placed neatly on the table, just like in a restaurant? This demonstrates to the consumer that care has been taken to treat them with dignity and respect.
4: Is everything clean and undamaged?
5: Is the table cluttered with unnecessary items? This can confuse and distract the residents from eating if the table is too “busy”.
6: Is there any decoration placed on the table? Consider placing small pots of flowers on each table to really enhance the color and atmosphere of the dining room. Hint: While this enhances the atmosphere, it is important to ensure that the pots and flowers are well-maintained.
7: Is the lighting sufficient but not too bright?
8: Is the dining room area free from unnecessary distractions? Avoid medication rounds during meals, TV’s turned on, unnecessary staff noise in the dining room.
9: With respect to the right for choice, do not assume that past preferences are current preferences. Offer choice of meals and drinks whenever available. Some residents may not feel comfortable speaking up when a drink has already been poured out for them or a meal already served.
10: What is the meal provided? When handing out meals, explain what the meal is. This serves to engage their mind and body to receive what is to come. It makes sense that if you don’t know what the meal is, you may be reluctant to eat it, particularly if you have a decreased appetite. This should occur with each course/ food item offered. This will also save time because residents can then identify if the meal is not suitable/to their liking, so that an alternative can be provided in a timely manner.
11: Have your residents had enough to eat? Are they leaving the table hungry? It is far easier and financially economical to meet nutritional needs through food than to address consequential malnutrition. Offering residents seconds before moving onto dessert is a great idea.
In summary – put yourself in the place of your residents. Create a dining room that you would be happy dine in yourself.
Please contact your Food Solutions Dietetic Team if you would like a full Mealtime Experience Review conducted at your facility. You will receive a report with tailored recommendations.
