Breaking bread together is one of the joys of life. Enjoying a meal not only nourishes our bodies but strengthens our bonds, relationships and overall happiness. Good food is essential to a good life, but when someone has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, it can be difficult to create a dining experience that fulfills mind, body and soul.
Individuals with dementia have a variety of physical and sensory difficulties that can cause dining to be a difficult and uncomfortable experience. People with dementia may have a hard time picking up utensils or successfully putting food in their mouth. This can lead to embarrassment, avoidance of mealtimes or other issues.
A memory care assisted living community like Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee understands the unique challenges of individuals living with dementia, so mealtimes are designed to ensure dignity and enjoyment while ensuring that people are getting the proper nutrition for their physical needs.
Our community has been developed from the ground up to anticipate, meet and exceed the needs of our residents and their families, and successful mealtimes are a large part of that. Our culinary staff, nutritionist and trained restaurant helpers are all well-versed in dementia best practices so that they can not only provide food that intrigues and excites our residents, but also provide dignified support and assistance wherever necessary.
It Starts with the Dining Room
Mealtimes are always centered around the dining room table, so setting a dining table for elderly people plays an important role in dining enjoyment. For starters, it’s important to make sure that the lighting is bright and inviting so that older adults can see what’s on their plates (and what’s on the table).
Next, it’s essential to make sure that the eating venue is clear of clutter, which may mean that you need to get rid of common things found in a dining room like rugs, design accents and unnecessary furniture. At the same time, it’s important to make sure that the dining space has been set up for the mobility needs of seniors with physical difficulties, so dining chairs with wheels for the elderly are a good thing to invest in.
Senior Table Ideas for Easier Eating
Besides dining chairs for elderly people, there are other ways to set up a meal space for dining success. Here are some suggestions:
- Make sure the dining environment is appealing, calm and as relaxing as possible. At Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, we have designed meals to be family-style, which places all the residents in a household together at the table, helping boost socialization and improve enjoyment of the meal.
- Keep the table clutter-free. This involves ensuring that there is enough contrast between things like plates, silverware and other essential items so that residents don’t get confused with what’s food and what’s not.
- It’s essential that the dining room is free from background noise that could cause distractions. At Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, we make sure that the focus is always on the meal and our residents and ensure that television and other noise are limited.
- We never worry about messiness at Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee. The important part is to make sure that our residents are comfortable and free to eat as they wish. While we try to limit too much mess, it’s no big deal for us if food gets on the tablecloth or clothes – after all, everything can be thrown into the laundry at the end of the day.
- Encouraging individuals with dementia to eat can be a good prompt if they otherwise might not do so themselves. Our serving staff and caregivers are always present at meals to make sure that our residents are eating, and we help them as much as is necessary.
Good nutrition plays a big part in health and happiness, so we focus on making the dining experience comfortable, enjoyable and fulfilling for our residents. If you’re interested in seeing how we make mealtimes delicious, fulfilling and enjoyable, we’d love to host you for a lunch or dinner to get a ‘taste’ of our meals firsthand.
Peace of Mind for Cape Cod Seniors and Their Families
Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee provides memory care assisted living that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, our community creates a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity, respects individual preferences and makes a positive impact on the lives of our residents every day.
Dedicated Memory Care
Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee offers compassionate dementia care and unique programs that are tailored to meet the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of each resident – throughout every stage of disease progression. Residents can age in place comfortably and with dignity while families gain peace of mind.
Supportive, Engaging Services
At Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, we offer a program of care and services that celebrates life and supports individual strengths. Our compassionate and engaging approach adapts to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment.
Bridges® by EPOCH is New England’s largest stand-alone memory care assisted living provider.
Contact us today to learn more.