Can anything be done to improve meal quality in nursing home?
My mom lives in a fairly upscale nursing home, at least good for Medicaid accepted ones. But the food is horrible. My mom has been to 4 nursing homes over rehab and long term and this is by far the worst. Some days she gets hamburgers for lunch and dinner several days in a row. Just yesterday I visited and the entire lunch was one piece of white bread, a plate of what looked like tomato soup with noodles thrown in it, it seriously looked half eaten there was barely anything there, and melon. Luckily I brought my mom pizza for lunch that day, but I really wish I took a picture of that meal. There was absolutely no protein and I don't see how that would fill anyone.
I keep my mom supplied with items to make sandwiches and meals as I can, but is there anything that can be done to improve the meal situation there? No protein is a common one and my mom has spoken to the dietitian several times. She is cognitively there and can voice her opinion just fine fortunately, but in this case nothing is working. I know nursing homes are notorious for bad food, but is there anything can I do or someone I can contact to help change the food?
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If you see no corrective action in the course of one week, call the Ombudsman andwrite to the Joint Commision on Nursing Home Accreditation.
They're competitive; nursing homes if run more like a competitive business would be able to see the value of high standards across the board.
The facility I've taken Dad to 3 times for rehab falls in that category. When issues have arisen, I've gone to the DON or the Administrator, if staff isn't able to resolve the problem. I follow the chain of command and with the exception of a few problems last time (which I was unaware of as I wasn't able to visit as often), issues have been resolved satisfactorily.
This favorite rehab facility (also now expanding to long term care) hired a chef from one of the top upscale restaurants in the area. Menus were planned as if they were in fact operating a restaurant, but not at the level of lobster and prime rib offerings. There was a standard alternate menu with a good choice of items.
This facility also offered one free meal to one family member, a nice way to begin a relationship with the family as well as the elder.
Our first experience with rehab was when we were still novices. Food was generally good, always served hot in a manner hospitals use (warmth held into the food by covers, delivered on carts). If Mom didn't like the food, sometimes we supplemented with food from home, but if my recollection is correction the food staff could make accommodations for special diets.
I would first try to discuss the issue with management and find solutions at the facility level. If you go beyond and bring in an Ombudsman, it puts unwanted pressure and embarrassment on the management, which might in fact be willing to work with you and address the problem.
I like the "speak softly and carry a big stick" philosophy.
And remember, staff in these facilities are subject to criticism at perhaps a level seen only in hospitals. If attorneys, repair shops, restaurants and more found themselves explaining to oversight authorities, they might just tell the complaining person on the next visit that they're no longer handling his/her work, or the repair shop is booked for the next several weeks and can't accommodate them, or that the restaurant is already booked to capacity and it's suggested the complainer find another restaurant.
My step father was recently in a nursing home inside a hospital. It is called a Skilled Nursing Facility...It is a great place. Medicaid was paying for his stay.
He was there for 2 years until his recent passing 3 weeks ago. He enjoyed the food until recently and wanted a change. I talked to the dietitian and found out that he could design his own menu, from the choices she provided, for the next 21 days in a row...all 3 meals. Then it would repeat. And if he didn't see what he wanted on the menu, he could write in what he wanted! The dietitian was helpful to the extreme to try to get him what he wanted. So the key is ... get to the dietitian, find out what is possible, and if that doesn't work, escalate to the next level! Don't just accept the status quo without investigating!
But also remember that, simply knowing that there is an Ombudsman and Joint Commision out there is very empowering. At a point when my mom's care was substandard and there didn't seem to be anything anyone could do, asking the administrator why my next call shouldn't be the the Ombudsman and Joint Commision lit a fire like I'd never seen. Just keep it in your pocket.
Never mind the dietitian: where's the cook? Who's in charge of the actual catering service? I like MsMadge's idea of a collective voice, but I'd add - build a relationship with the person who plans and delivers the menu. It's quite possible that when you see what budget s/he is working with you'll have more sympathy with her/him; but also s/he might well respond to someone actually taking a constructive interest in the service. It's hard to take pride in your work if nobody ever says anything about it.
My aunts loved there food, too. Their nursing home was in another state.
Certainly not all care center food is bad. So sorry yours is!
Second, special diets have to have written orders from an MD. You can't just ask for a diabetic meal. It has to be ordered by your doctor. Same with gluten free; it has to have a doctor's order. The health department makes the rules, facilities just follow them.
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