Last updated on June 15th, 2023
As people age, finding quality care becomes a concern for them and their loved ones. Long-term care facilities are often a solution, providing an opportunity for older adults to have all their health and wellness necessities taken care of by a well-trained, professionally diverse staff. Registered dietitians can be overlooked and underappreciated among all the professionals working together in a long-term care setting. However, the role of Registered Dietitians should never be understated.
They play an integral part in ensuring that residents stay healthy by working with an interdisciplinary team to make any alterations or substitutions that need to be made to an existing diet while communicating the necessity of comprehensive wellness to the patient. In addition to their primary responsibilities, they also assist people with dietary restrictions due to disease or allergies that may impact their ability to function.
In the interest of tending to both the health and happiness of older adults in long-term care, registered dietitians need to be involved in the day-to-day happenings at the facility. When this happens, a noticeable difference will occur in resident satisfaction.
How can Registered Dietitians become more engaged in long-term care facilities?
Food is central to the human experience. Gathering for a meal and sharing recipes are things that many older adults have cherished with their loved ones for decades, so it shouldn’t stop when they have to enter a long-term care facility. When registered dietitians become engaged with residents, they begin to foster an environment where residents can continue to enjoy camaraderie and fellowship through food. Because loneliness and social isolation are so prevalent among older adults, specifically those living in care facilities, building these connections is more important than ever. By ensuring that older adults not only have access to nutritious meals but also things like adaptive equipment or texture-modified foods, registered dietitians are also promoting independence and dignity among residents.
Our most recent case study shows that simply asking residents about their experience with food at your facility can show them that their opinions are valued and respected. When surveyed, the majority of the small sample of residents at Valley View Nursing and Rehab – a facility that uses Culinary Services Group to enhance their dining experience – were satisfied with:
- Their ability to exercise choice in what foods they eat
- The overall quality of the food
- Competence and demeanor of the dining and nutrition staff.
Structured interviews and surveys are great ways to engage with residents and obtain quantitative data simultaneously. A study conducted in aged care facilities and geriatric rehabilitation units in Australia used the Resident Foodservice Satisfaction Questionnaire to assess residents’ opinions. Similar to our case study, they focused on meal quality and enjoyment, autonomy, staff consideration, hunger, and food quantity.
Outside of a research setting, engaging with residents during their daily interactions is also helpful. Studies show that social interaction during mealtimes can help improve morale and enhance the dining environment. When registered dietitians take a moment to sit down with residents during mealtime, they can gather important information on how residents feel about their food experience in a more personalized setting. This also contributes to making older adults feel like their opinions matter and that they are contributing to their care, heightening a sense of independence and self-determination.
Registered dietitians from Culinary Services Group focus on actively listening to concerns, creating a culture of trust, and fostering open communication with the residents they work with. Each of these initiatives contributes to becoming more engaged with a facility and ultimately improving resident satisfaction.
However, registered dietitians cannot implement change by themselves. Working with an interdisciplinary team (including medical, administrative, and social staff) is key to creating an environment where nutrition takes center stage. Because dietitians are involved in almost every aspect of a resident’s food and dining experience, utilizing a collaborative approach can show your residents that you value their health on a holistic level.
Can all residents benefit from Registered Dietitian engagement?
Long-term care facilities have diverse populations, with residents having a myriad of health problems and unique needs. Common health conditions that registered dietitians deal with are dysphagia, malnutrition, and dementia, each of which may have its own complexities and may require a modified diet to accommodate mobility challenges or a liberalized diet to support a healthy calorie intake. A liberalized approach caters to a person’s individualized dietary needs, which is one of the main responsibilities of registered dietitians in long-term care communities. These diets also allow people to consume foods they enjoy in moderation, while still taking care of their health.
Different types of long-term care communities can also benefit from registered dietitian engagement, especially if they have an environment where the staff takes a hands-on approach to interacting with residents. Whether you focus more on assisted living principles or are a skilled nursing facility, incorporating having a dietitian on staff can help improve morale, nutrition, and the overall mental and physical health of your residents.
Logistically, dietitian engagement can also help maximize Medicare reimbursements by improving statistics that are associated with incentive payments through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program – something that is often a challenge to deal with for many of the administrative staff. With more funding comes the ability to be more flexible and creative in what you can offer your residents.
Overall, registered dietitian engagement is one of the best ways to help increase health initiatives in residents, reducing the risk for serious health conditions or even mortality.
Creating a More Engaging Environment Through Food Service
Research has found that eating healthier foods like a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables can contribute to having a more positive life. Although resident satisfaction involves looking at a person’s overall thoughts about a facility’s functions, food and nutrition play a much more significant role than you might think. Because of this, quality food service and management shouldn’t be something you’re skipping out on.
When dietitians are engaged in long-term care settings, residents are happier and healthier – contributing to creating a better environment for them to live out their golden years. At Culinary Services Group, our dietitians become more involved with residents by working with the entire staff to enhance programs, activities, and education. Contact us to learn more about how our services can help improve your resident satisfaction through registered dietitian engagement.
