Good food is about more than nutrition; it supports dignity, health, comfort, and quality of life. Food creates conversation and a gathering point, whether at a barbecue or living in a nursing home. A new Consumer Voice resource, More Than a Meal: Why Food Quality Matters in Long-Term Care, highlights what residents are experiencing when it comes to food and dining in long-term care.
Based on feedback from more than 450 long-term care residents, this new resource reveals widespread concerns about unappealing meals, food served at the wrong temperature, limited menu choices, and dietary needs going unmet, while also showcasing examples of facilities that are getting it right.
It also provides practical advocacy tips for residents, families, and councils, including questions to ask facilities, ways to document concerns, and steps to take when food quality and resident rights are not being respected. This resource also includes an Appendix which outlines residents’ rights to nutritious, culturally appropriate, and person-centered dining experiences.
