Transcript Policy Matters

Nutrition and Dignity
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Policy
The Home will ensure that all Residents are
offered a choice of nutritious, well-balanced
and appetising meals which are based upon a
sound understanding of their needs and
preferences, and served in a manner which
promotes and delivers enjoyment, self-respect
and the preservation of dignity.
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Assessment upon admission to the Home
All new Residents undergo a comprehensive
assessment of their needs upon entering the
Home. This detailed assessment covers a
variety of topics and includes gaining a
thorough understanding of their dietary
requirements, their likes and dislikes with
regard to both food and drink and their
preferences.
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This nutritional screening assessment also looks into the
cultural background of Residents, examining what
foods, flavours, recipes etc have played an important
part in their lives, and which will contribute
significantly to their enjoyment of life in the Home.
The Home will not make assumptions, however, simply
based upon a Resident’s ethnic or cultural background,
and will often seek the views of friends, carers, family
members where this is likely to be helpful into gaining
the best understanding of the Resident’s preferences.
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Food service staff are advised of the dietary
preferences and requirements of each Resident,
and are instructed to include these, as much as
possible in the Home’s food service planning and
delivery arrangements. Where a Resident enters
the Home and it is apparent, through visual
observation that there are, for example, weight
issues (significant over or under weight, relative to
height), or the Resident experiences difficulties in
swallowing, or handling ordinary eating utensils,
than that Resident will be referred for professional
assessment and support.
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Arrangements for meals in the Home
The Home looks upon each mealtime as a special
occasion, allowing Residents to mix socially, and
enjoy excellent food, locally prepared and sourced,
in convivial surroundings.
It is accepted, however, that this aim can only be
achieved where there is sufficient flexibility in the
arrangements for the serving of food, and staff
understand the individual needs of each Resident.
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It is likely that some Residents, for example, will
have, currently, no special needs – their dietary
requirements have been established, and the
choice of food available to them reflects this,
and they are able to eat and drink, and enjoy
mealtimes without assistance.
This is unlikely be the case for everyone in the
Home.
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Where eating difficulties are apparent, for any
Resident, then arrangements will be put into
place to ensure that food and drink prepared
for them, individually, is appropriate for their
needs and condition.
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Where support is needed, for example help with
feeding or drinking, then this will be provided
on a routine basis. Staff will be alerted as to
who needs help, and will ensure that such help
is given at the appropriate time, and always in
a caring and professional manner.
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Staff training
Care staff will undertake training, as necessary, in order
that they may:
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understand the importance of good nutrition and
hydration for Residents in their care;
have the skills to communicate with Residents who
have dementia, or communication difficulties;
understand their individual roles in ensuring that
Residents eat and enjoy meals within the Home;
act appropriately if they see signs of malnutrition or
dehydration.
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Protection of dignity
The Home accepts its duty to protect the dignity
of Residents at all times, and in every single
aspect of their care.
This duty is of particular importance in a
residential care setting, with communal dining,
and the Home will:
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Stagger mealtimes if staffing is insufficient to
deal with the individual support needs of
Residents at any particular time;
Where necessary, serve meals in the Resident’s
room, if this is felt, on balance, to best serve the
interests of the Resident;
Provide serviettes, not Bibs;
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Give Residents time to eat their meals properly,
and to enjoy the occasion;
Provide routine and sympathetic assistance
discreetly, for Residents who have difficulty
eating. Generally, assistance will be planned,
however staff are instructed always to be on
the look-out for Residents experiencing
difficulties, and to assist as necessary;
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Provide adapted crockery and cutlery to enable
Residents to feed themselves where this is
appropriate;
Develop Volunteer schemes to help give
support at mealtimes;
Encourage carers, family and friends to visit
and offer individual support at mealtimes.
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Food service
The Home will strive to ensure that a significant proportion of food
served is locally sourced and seasonal. Kitchen staff will be
advised as to the dietary requirements of Residents, and any
difficulties they may be experiencing in taking food and drink.
This information will be used to ensure that individual Resident’s
needs are adequately catered for, and that individual choices and
preferences become an integral part of the food planning and
preparation activities of the Home.
Residents will be provided, in a timely fashion, with advance
information on the Menus for each day, and the choices available.
The Home also offers snacks and drinks for Residents and their
visitors upon demand.
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“Quality of Service Programme”
The Home will monitor satisfaction levels in all
key areas of its operations, and will review,
evaluate, and implement improvements, where
necessary, on a continuous basis, with the
overall aim of becoming a “model of good
practice”. This process is known, throughout
the Home, as the “Quality of Service
Programme.”
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On a regular basis, the Home will:
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Respond to complaints in a positive and
constructive manner so that lessons may be
learned and improvements made;
Seek the views of both staff, Residents and
interested “others” on the food service
programme provided by the Home, including
views on mealtimes, the quality of food, choice,
etc.
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Provide feedback on the results of such surveys
and questionnaires;
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Develop improvement action programmes;
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Implement improvements as necessary.
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Any Questions?
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