Culture Change: Resident Choice

For those of you that have worked in long-term care as long as I have, you will remember when residents were fed in their rooms. This was the hospital model that nursing homes were originally based upon. It was also efficient from a labor standpoint.

Then the trend became to encourage all residents to eat in dining rooms or other dining areas. The main reason for this was socialization. It also encouraged a more homelike environment and an overall nicer dining environment.

Now many facilities have many short-term rehab residents. These residents often do not want to eat in the dining room with the others. They do not see themselves as residents in the facility like the others. They are only in the facility temporarily to get better and then go home.

Offering room service for those that want it may be a desirable option for some nursing homes again. Offering smaller dining rooms may be another option.

Most nursing homes have a variety of residents with a variety of needs and desires. Offering differing dining locations, along with a variety of menu options and dining time options, greatly increases customer satisfaction.