Diet in long term care

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Has anyone else been appalled by the food they serve in LTC? I have a lot of diabetics who recieve cake and sweets on their tray . Or cardiac or CHF pts who recieve food loaded with fat ? Today I served my pts for lunch fried fish sandwiches , the alternative ? pork chop with gravy? Is it only this facility ? I have already heard the argument that this is supposed to be their home and they should eat whatever they choose , but then why do we have to have endless meetings on pts weight gains and fluid req's ? Just curious what goes on elsewhere?

The facilities around here are way too heavy on starch, I think. But the "special diets" are a joke. In reality in lots of these places everyone gets the same thing, just pureed or whatever if necessary. My Mom just got out of a LTC rehab place and the actvity people were giving goodie bags of candy out to all. Mom got one and she is a diabetic, thankkfully a relatively well controlled and disciplined one. She "rationed" herself her candy over days and offered the rest to visitors., but gee, what about the senile or brittle folks?

Laura

does anybody know of a good cardiac diet desert for a project that i am doing, i mean i've researched a littlew bit but it seems that the ingredients are just what the pts don't need.. i understand the idea of a cadiac diet is to reduce as much of fat intake as possible.. we want to make our project fancy but i really don't have the time to put to much into this help me someone, maybe you can look on the menu of your facility.. thanx!

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....

There should be no diet restrictions as far as I am concerned. Just diet "limits". Diabetics are a concern and can be managed by limiting dietary intake of carbs and sugars. I think that Fingersticks ougt to be outlawed too! Docs should do periodic HgA1c testing and adjust oral medications from that. Fluid restrictions are a joke most of the time. Unless the person is not able to get to the sink or water fountain...or to the 7-11 for that matter. We put all these restrictions on everyone, then chase our tails trying to "monitor them" and it never seems to work out. I agree with the other posters who say that if someone lives to be 80+ years old...why in this world would we want to ruin what little time they have left my taking things away from them. I want my coke-a-cola 6 times a day...cupcakes, gingerbread with lemon-curd topping, gravy, pork chops, biscuits, bacon, fresh eggs-not pasteurized, and anything else that strokes my fancy!

Regarding the cardiac dessert: I recomment Banana Bread made with raisons instead of nuts. My recipe calls for no shortening. Fat free vanilla yoghurt is nice with it.

Specializes in LTC.
There should be no diet restrictions as far as I am concerned. Just diet "limits". Diabetics are a concern and can be managed by limiting dietary intake of carbs and sugars. I think that Fingersticks ougt to be outlawed too! Docs should do periodic HgA1c testing and adjust oral medications from that. Fluid restrictions are a joke most of the time. Unless the person is not able to get to the sink or water fountain...or to the 7-11 for that matter. We put all these restrictions on everyone, then chase our tails trying to "monitor them" and it never seems to work out. I agree with the other posters who say that if someone lives to be 80+ years old...why in this world would we want to ruin what little time they have left my taking things away from them. I want my coke-a-cola 6 times a day...cupcakes, gingerbread with lemon-curd topping, gravy, pork chops, biscuits, bacon, fresh eggs-not pasteurized, and anything else that strokes my fancy!

I've had a stomach virus for the past two days and my appetite is just coming back but lol that sounds so good.

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