Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Person-centered care is more than a theory; it’s an approach that prioritizes the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of people, recognizing their inherent worth and value as people. While this philosophy applies to people of all ages, it’s especially relevant for older adults.
Through the physical, cognitive, and emotional changes that come with getting older, seniors are more likely to experience challenges with their identity and independence. Guided by trust and genuine communication, person-centered care provides those that care for older adults an evidence-based strategy to handle these challenges appropriately.
It’s become so popular (and practical) that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) encourages using it as the basic standard of care. So, along with improving your compliance with F-tag standards and other health and safety regulations, you can make person-centered changes to your culinary culture – ones that help your residents thrive.
Defining Person-Centered Care
Developed by Carl Rogers in the early twentieth century, person-centered care focuses on a person’s unique preferences and needs. Theories about the person-centered approach have evolved throughout the past few decades, expanding to include more of a focus on mindfulness and culture. Because this type of care emphasizes the entire well-being of an individual, senior living staff are also encouraged to practice empathy and compassion for the residents they work with.
As we redefine what person-centered care means, specifically for the senior population, we must also consider the holistic implications. What does this approach look like in a long-term care community?
A Liberalized Diet = Person-Centered Care
The Alzheimer’s Association recommends a person-centered approach to culinary engagement, starting with liberalized diets that “restore the joy of dining.”
Food, whether a decades-old family recipe or something found in a new cookbook, holds more value for many people than simply being a means to survive; their kitchen is the center of their home, where they can connect with family and friends over a meal. When transitioning to a long-term care community, many older adults lose touch with this form of independence because they aren’t living in their own homes.
Liberalized diets, which are meals that incorporate both preferences and health needs, allow them to take control of their diet amidst a period of change.
Creating a liberalized diet is practicing empathy. You can start by trying to understand your resident’s circumstances. How would you feel if your diet was reduced to a few foods? It’s essential to consider this for each resident, along with their cultural background and personal beliefs before you make any changes to your dining program.
Liberalized diets also differ from therapeutic diets, which tend to restrict food intake rather than enhance it. For example, a low-sodium diet is considered therapeutic. This is something that often significantly impacts an older adult’s mental health, especially if they’re already dealing with health challenges or any other stressful life event.
Among the many benefits of offering liberalized diets to your residents, here are some of our favorites:
- It increases motivation to eat. Many older adults have a decreased appetite due to things like changes in their digestive system, a loss of sense of smell or taste, or a health condition. However, with the freedom to choose meals and snacks they enjoy, they can develop a positive relationship with food – serving as a motivator to eat more.
- It promotes healthy living. Almost 50% of older adults in the U.S. suffer from food insecurity or are at risk for malnutrition. If they live in a food desert, they’re also more likely to eat foods high in sodium, fat, and calories – all of which contribute to health problems seniors are more at risk for, like hypertension or cardiac conditions. Liberalized diets provide a healthy balance of foods that promote a healthy lifestyle.
- It helps build community. When residents are offered liberalized diets, it fosters a sense of community by allowing them to share their food preferences, recipes, and culinary tradition with each other. This leads to increased socialization, promoting a supportive and inclusive environment that prioritizes positive mental well-being.
How to Take Your Community’s Dining Program from Impersonal to Person-Centered
While there’s nothing wrong with following traditional dining program standards, providing your residents with a person-centered meal plan to remember and enjoy is always an option.
Using the six “factors of necessary growth,” which is what a person-centered approach is based on, is a great way to start. Here’s a quick definition of each as it relates to your community’s dining program and tips on how to put these principles into practice.
- A Relationship Between Staff and Resident: When staff and residents have healthy relationships, achieving positive change is more manageable.
- Resident Vulnerability: Residents should feel safe to voice their preferences without fear of judgment or reprimand.
- Genuineness: Staff should take a genuine and authentic approach to understanding a client’s needs, specifically when dealing with older adults with food restrictions.
- Unconditional Positive Regard: Regardless of whether a resident’s experience with food is positive or negative, staff should accept their views with a positive mindset.
- Empathy: Staff should practice empathy as much as possible when working with residents, which acknowledges the resident’s preferences from their point of view rather than the staff’s.
- Resident Perception: Thoroughly investigate how each resident perceives their liberalized diet. Are they satisfied with the final result? If not, remind them that meal plans and diets can always be changed.
With Culinary Services Group as your food service management partner, you can start implementing these changes sooner rather than later. Our registered dietitians and food service professionals work with residents to learn their preferences, needs, and special considerations so they can create the most personalized dining program possible.
Learn more about how you can partner with us by scheduling a consultation with a member of our team.
