If there’s one thing that contributes most to the quality of life for those who are residents of assisted living communities, it’s the right dining services.
Resident-centered food services are an essential part of the culture change movement that’s being led by senior living options. Not only do dining services for older adults need to be customized while still tasting good, but they also need to be balanced and nutritious. Searching for dietitian-approved residential care home dining for seniors in Florida? Reach out to Summer’s Landing today by calling 850.265.9829 or contacting our team online.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a type of housing community designed for people who require various levels of medical and personal care daily. People like this are typically older adults, especially those that live alone.
Living spaces in these communities can be individual rooms or apartments, or jack-n-jill quarters. Assisted living communities are also designed to provide a family-friendly environment while promoting residents’ independence. Many services are provided by an assisted living community to its residents, such as the following:
- Dining services
- Planning health and wellness activities, such as yoga classes
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Medication therapy management (MTM)
- Planning recreational and social activities, such as trips
- Personal care services, including bathing and dressing
- 24-hour emergency care service
What Is Residential Care Home Dining for Seniors?
Resident-centered dining services are no longer simply about serving food on trays or providing tablecloths. In fact, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed guidelines that state that nursing home dining services “must provide each resident with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets his or her daily nutritional and special dietary needs.” As nursing homes typically have residents of the same age as assisted living communities, a dietitian-approved menu would be ideal for assisted living residents, as well.
Good nutrition is a critical part of maintaining health. Better nutrition is related to stronger immune systems, a lower risk of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and overall longevity. Apart from the nutritional value of the food that’s being served, dining services may also consider prioritizing the following:
- Ambiance and atmosphere of the dining area
- Flexible sitting arrangement in the dining area
- Food presentation
- Variety of menu choices
- 24-hour kitchen
When Should You Consider Assisted Living?
One of the difficult tasks humans face as a society is how we take care of our beloved seniors. A point in time will come when an older adult can no longer live by themselves, and decisions will need to be made to handle this situation. If someone you love is an older adult in this situation, or if you’re the older adult, you may be considering being a resident of an assisted living community or an ALF.
Before committing to an ALF, you should measure the level of care you or someone you love needs through charting activities of daily living (ADLs). This helps you understand how well someone can complete basic activities that contribute to daily living. Here are the ADLs you need to score:
- Bathing
- Continence or being able to control bowels
- Dressing
- Feeding
- Toileting or going to the bathroom
- Transferring or the ability to get in and out of bed
Each category has an equal value of importance. You rate a category one if it can be completed and zero if it can’t. Add the ratings to find out the overall score. The higher the score, the more independent someone can live. If someone scores three or up, it’s clear that while they need some hands-on care and attention, they can still live independently.
In Florida, any community with an ALF license provides some MTM services and ADL assistance services—on top of providing meals and shelter.
Ready to Learn More About Summer’s Landing’s Dining Services?
If you’re looking for dietitian-approved residential care home dining for seniors in Florida, contact Summer’s Landing today. Reach out to our team online or call 850.265.9829.
