Leading foodservice wholesaler Creed Foodservice has produced a new guide for care caterers which gives advice and guidance for optimising mealtimes for residents, with a view to creating calmer, more comfortable experiences that mimic dining at home.
A positive dining experience is crucial in care homes as it not only influences the enjoyment of a meal, which can help to improve appetites that naturally diminish as we age, but mealtimes also provide residents with time to socialise and food often evokes feelings of nostalgia.
The Dining Experience guide takes an in-depth look at three key elements that form the dining experience, including person-centric initiatives, creating a positive ambience and practical table setting tips. The guide has been created by Creed’s team of experts, including development chefs, the insights team and the company’s care sector specialists. The guide includes tips which are adaptable to suit the diverse needs of residents.
Advice on Being Person-Centric centres around planning ahead to ensure all residents needs are understood before dining, with protected mealtimes to give consistency and structure. The Dining Ambience looks at everything from lighting, through to noise and music recommendations, as well as food and drink presentation and formats. Setting The Scene explores the creative use of crockery, cutlery, drinkware, and colour to create an interesting yet practical mealtime set-up for residents.
Creed’s care sector specialist Andy Williams said: “Ensuring residents’ mealtimes are delivered with great care and attention to detail, providing them with a positive and enjoyable dining experience, is something we take pride in at Creed. Particularly when it comes to the next generation of residents, the Baby Boomers, who have increasingly higher expectations of food and drink provision, with a huge 80 per cent saying they would pay a premium for better quality food and hospitality in a care setting. This guide is short and practical, outlining adjustments that can be made which will change the dining experience for residents exponentially.”
https://www.creedfoodservice.co.uk/blog/DiningExperience.html
