Why Residents Often Eat Better After Moving Into a Care Home
Has your loved one stopped cooking the meals they used to enjoy? Perhaps you’ve noticed food going untouched in the fridge or an increasing reliance on toast and other quick options.
Changes like these are common as we get older. That’s because preparing a meal can become more difficult, as well as decreased appetite and not wanting to eat alone every day.
After moving into a care home, residents have freshly prepared meals available every day and no longer have to manage the shopping or cooking themselves.
Keep reading to learn how care homes encourage residents to eat well, helping them thrive in their new environment.
How Do Care Homes Encourage Residents to Eat Well?
Care homes encourage residents to eat well by providing regular meals with plenty of choice and getting to know each resident’s food preferences. Staff can support residents who find eating difficult, adapt meals when required and keep an eye on how much they are eating, so changes in appetite or eating habits can be picked up early.
In More Detail:
How Care Homes Make It Easier for Residents to Eat Well
Encouraging a good appetite in elderly residents involves removing some of the difficulties residents experienced at home and finding out what makes eating easier and more enjoyable for each resident, such as:
Keeping an Eye on Appetite
Because staff see residents eating regularly, they can learn what is usual for each individual. For example, if a resident who normally finishes dinner begins leaving most of it, starts refusing meals or is drinking noticeably less, trained carers can investigate the reasons behind these changes.
The explanation could just be something as straightforward as a sore mouth or poorly fitting dentures. Another factor could be constipation, which can reduce appetite, while an infection may cause a resident to lose interest in food altogether.
Sometimes, a medication change can cause nausea, dry mouth or a reduced appetite. If this happens, it will be raised with the appropriate healthcare professional.
Serving Food Residents Actually Enjoy
Care teams will quickly learn what residents like to eat and how they prefer their food to be served. This could be as specific as having gravy on the side and preferring vegetables cooked softer — or always wanting porridge for breakfast.
Menus in good care homes will always provide a choice, with an alternative available if a resident does not fancy either of the main options that day or has specific requirements, such as food allergies.
Portion size can be adjusted as well, so that a resident with a small appetite is happier starting with half a portion and asking for more if they want it.
Making Mealtimes Sociable
An older adult who lived alone will likely have spent months or even years eating most of their meals by themselves.
That’s why, when moving into a care home, residents can share a table with others and talk while they eat, allowing them to become familiar with the residents they regularly dine with.
But if a busy dining room is too uncomfortable, they can always eat somewhere quieter, whether that’s in their room or a smaller area within the home.
Providing Practical Help With Eating
Arthritis and reduced hand strength can make ordinary cutlery difficult to use. Depending on what a resident finds difficult, adapted cutlery with larger handles, plate guards or non-slip mats let them continue eating independently.
There will be some residents who need physical assistance from staff.
This might only be needed for certain foods, while another resident may need support throughout the entire meal. Trained carers also allow additional time for residents who eat slowly.
Changing the Texture of Food When Necessary
Some residents have dental or denture issues that make harder foods uncomfortable to eat, so softer foods will be needed. Swallowing difficulties require professional assessment. If a resident has dysphagia, a healthcare professional will make recommendations about the texture of their food or the thickness of their drinks and the kitchen and care team can then follow that advice when preparing and serving meals.
Getting Back Into Regular Mealtimes
When cooking becomes difficult or your loved one lives alone, proper meals might gradually become less frequent. Having breakfast, lunch and an evening meal prepared every day in a care home removes the work of planning meals, as well as all the shopping and cooking. Residents who prefer smaller portions can also have snacks between meals or eat little and often.
Eating Well After Moving Into a Care Home
If your loved one has gradually stopped cooking proper meals or regularly leaves food untouched, moving into a care home can remove many of the practical difficulties surrounding mealtimes.
And as staff learn a resident’s habits, they can find out what they enjoy eating, as well as the times when their appetite is better and where they may need additional support, making food much more enjoyable and ensuring your loved one is nourished and satisfied.
For families who previously had no way of knowing whether food was eaten or thrown away, having regular oversight from a professional care team can be particularly reassuring.
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