Diet in long term care

nursedawn67, LPN · Dec 10, 2004

I understand your point, but you can think of it this way...most of the residents in LTC are quite elderly...I figure if they ate anything they wanted for all those years and still made it to 90, obviously they have done something right. Why change their diet now? It is suppossed to be their home, and they should be allowed to live the rest of their lives as such. But just my opinion, and it's not to say that certain residents that are temporary and are younger maybe should have a special diet, but I don't feel 90 year old residents should all of a sudden have to have a diet. :)

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2004

Wt loss is a much bigger problem in my facility mainly because the residents don't like the low sodium/ fat meals that are served. With the wt loss comes so many other problems. With the diabetics..we just have a controlled (Ha!)carb diet. most of the ones who can...will get sweets from home or others. As far as the cardiac..we don't really have low fat diets and the lo salt means no salt on the tray. Our biggest complaint is variety and the consistancy and temps of foods.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Dec 11, 2004

The food at my facility is very good. We have a wide range of things to choose from and if they hate everything else, there is always a grilled cheese sandwich. Too many of our patients come in on very restrictive diets, but, if they are old old old the docs usually say give them what they want to eat.

Meal times used to be horrendous, but our new administrator has an "all hands on deck" policy. This means just about everyone has to help pass trays...the bookkeeper, the social worker, the activities director. One nurse stands at the cart to make sure all the meals are correct...especially the thickened liquids and then the tray is served. It makes everyone happier...all except for the surveyors. They saw us ALL handing out trays and thought it was just for their benefit until they saw how smoothly everything went.

Life is uncertain............eat your dessert first. :balloons:

Hairstylingnurse · Dec 11, 2004

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?

WOW whats the address, I'm coming to supper yum,yum

acgemt · Dec 11, 2004

If I ever made it to 80+ years, I certainly wouldn't want to have a diet controlled meal at a nursing home (hopefully, I won't have to live in a nursing home, but I won't go there...). I want to be able to enjoy the rest of my years of living, so bring on the filet mignon, baked potatoes smuthered in butter, and chocolate :rotfl:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Dec 11, 2004

If I ever made it to 80+ years, I certainly wouldn't want to have a diet controlled meal at a nursing home (hopefully, I won't have to live in a nursing home, but I won't go there...). I want to be able to enjoy the rest of my years of living, so bring on the filet mignon, baked potatoes smuthered in butter, and chocolate :rotfl:

And a big, resounding AMEN to that!!

God help anyone who tries to impose some kind of diet on me if I make it to 80-90 years old.....I figure if I've lived that long, I've earned the right to eat and drink and do whatever I choose. End of story. :stone

Cubby · Dec 11, 2004

I don't have a problem with the residents getting the occasional treat, but I have two brittle diabetics (we are their pancreas) who are given candy-cookies-milk whenever they ask for it by our ever soliticious Activity and Social Worker. Then they actually have the gaul to ask why we are not controlling thier diets any better. Yes, I and others have mentioned it, but to no avail. Grumble Grumble Grouse. :angryfire

webblarsk · Dec 11, 2004

I don't have a problem with the residents getting the occasional treat, but I have two brittle diabetics (we are their pancreas) who are given candy-cookies-milk whenever they ask for it by our ever soliticious Activity and Social Worker. Then they actually have the gaul to ask why we are not controlling thier diets any better. Yes, I and others have mentioned it, but to no avail. Grumble Grumble Grouse. :angryfire

Yes.........that always ticked me off when SS or Activities would just go by and give my brittle diabetics cookies and other stuff without asking!

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2004

I HATE HATE HATE stupid activities people! But as far as diet is concerned, the diabetics and the purees/thickened liquids people are the ones with the restrictions. And if they or their POA says give 'em whatever, then they get whatever. Most families aren't that stupid. Then there's the son who gives his mother candy and yells at us because her bg is 346.

xmaxiex · Dec 13, 2004

Ok point taken but how about some better choices ?

StephMSeattle · Dec 13, 2004

We have sugarfree ice cream, a wide variety of meal options, etc... The pureed stuff still looks like crap, though. I think that's universal. The pureed broccoli looks like guacamole and is shaped like a rosette. Sure beats the h*** out of pureed s*** on a shingle!