Meal time in a nursing home is one of the most enjoyful events for residents. This is a gathering and social events as much as it is for nourishment. Residents who may not interact at any other time of the day will venture to the dining room for the pleasure of eating with others.

Meal times can also be an extremely frustrating time for residents as well. Often time, due to budget restraints, the dietary staff is minimal. From the cook in the kitchen to the servers on the dining room floor they are often overwhelmed and overworked. Residents should be served as in a restuarant. There is usually two main course along with a soup, beverages, and dessert. Often time selections are minimal, if existant in many nursing homes.

Meals are a way for administration to save on their budget as well. This is probably the most penny pinched department in a nursing home. Because the staff does not have to eat these meals, the taste and pleasure of a meal are of little concern. In most nursing home the number one complaint that most residents will have is poor quality food. Poor tasting, poor service, poor quality, and this is often coupled with poor dietary orders. All this makes for what can be a very frustrated resident, who goes to the dining room for no other reason but to be around others...sadly, not to enjoy a nice tasting, nourishing meal.

Families often times get extremely frustrated about meals as well. Because they have little to no control over the meals families will bring in meals cooked at home or fast food. This often times can interfere with the therapeutic process. Although the family is only trying to offer their loved one an enjoyable meal, many times they are doing more harm than good. So, what is one to do in this situation? There is not much that can be done. As always begin with managment and offer us concerns. If this does no good then proceed to administartion. If stil this does no good then one can address these with the doctor. If the resident is not eating because the food of not good, then the doctor will be sure to take note and possibly modify the diet consistency to facility intake. The doctor will be primarily concerned about a weight loss. This is VITAL. I cannot express enough how vital it is for the elderly to maintain a healthy weight. Weight loss in the elderly can be catastrophic.

Keep an eye on the meal for your loved one. We want them to actually enjoy their meals. We enjoy them at home, just as they did before they were placed. Before they were placed they enjoyed nice, home made selection. Although a nursing home cannot replicate all culture food selections or replicate home made meals, they are able to provide quality, nourishing meals.