Independent living communities are an excellent option for older adults who wish to maintain an active lifestyle while still receiving some assistance with daily tasks. However, one common question families and seniors have when considering senior living communities is whether they provide meals. It's a great question, but most importantly it's an amenity that you want when deciding on which independent living community is suitable for you or your aging loved one.
The good news is most independent living communities provide three meals per day. Since dining options and meal plans vary depending on the specific senior living community, we'll explore some common dining experiences and meal plans.
Dining Experience in Senior Living Communities
Restaurant-Style Dining
A lot of independent living communities offer restaurant-style dining. Residents are able to choose from a variety of menu options and have their meals served to them by waitstaff. This dining experience mimics the ambiance of a traditional restaurant. Residents will appreciate comfortable seating, tablecloths, and attractive dish presentations. This type of dining is often available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and residents can usually invite family and friends to join them for a meal.
Special Event Dining
Many independent living communities have private dining rooms for seniors who enjoy hosting family gatherings such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other events. If being the host for family events has always brought joy to you or your elder loved one, being able to continue this tradition will be important. The best part is they'll be able to enjoy the time with family and friends more, because typically the staff takes care of the cooking and cleanup.
Outdoor Dining
In some senior living communities, residents reap the benefits of eating meals outside in a courtyard, patio, or garden area. This can be a pleasant way for seniors to take advantage of good weather while enjoying the fresh air and scenery. Outdoor dining usually consists of tables and chairs or picnic-style seating. Residents can order from the regular menu or a special outdoor dining menu.
Private Dining
There may be days residents feel like cooking their own meals, want to make memories by baking cookies with the grandbabies, or they prefer to enjoy a meal alone in their home while watching a favorite TV show. In any of these circumstances, having a kitchen in their apartment allows them the freedom to do these things.
Meal Plans in Independent Living Communities
Specialized Diet Accommodations
Some senior residents have special dietary needs. Certain medications require a resident to eliminate certain foods or ingredients that would interact with a medicine they're taking. Some have medical conditions such as diabetes that require certain dietary restrictions. Or maybe your loved one is vegan or can't have gluten. Whatever the case, most senior living communities have dietitians or nutritional experts to ensure their residents get the proper nutrition to stay healthy and happy.
Menu Planning
Questions you may want to ask when it comes to menu planning are as follows:
- Are the residents' dietary needs communicated to the cooks and other kitchen staff?
- Do the seniors in the community have a say when it comes to planning the menu?
- Can the resident order whatever food he or she wants?
- Are there options for residents who have a cultural preference (e.g. Mexican, Indian, Italian, or Asian)?
Food Quality
The quality of the food is just as essential as the dining experience. Not only do older adults need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, but the food should be delicious as well. If it lacks flavor and fails to please, residents probably won't eat it.
Components of a Good Meal Plan for Seniors
Nutrient-Dense Foods
Healthy foods provide residents with the nutrients they need to maintain their health and reduce the risk of illness. These foods are high in vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. Examples include fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and other healthy fats.
Adequate Protein
Protein is essential for maintaining muscle mass and strength in older adults. Good sources of protein for seniors include lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds.
Fiber-Rich Foods
Food high in fiber helps prevent constipation, which is a common problem among aging adults. Having a good source of fiber also reduces cholesterol and regulates blood sugar..
Some great fiber-rich foods for seniors are raspberries, apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, pears, avocados, broccoli, green peas, cauliflower, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, brown rice, beans, popcorn, and nuts.
Healthy Fats
Including healthy fats when planning the menus for independent living residents can help reduce their risk of heart disease. Good sources of healthy fats consist of olive oil, salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, trout, chia seeds, yogurt (not the low fat), walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, dark chocolate, and olives.
Hydrating Foods
Dehydration can cause a long list of health complications. As such, the senior living staff should encourage residents to drink plenty of water throughout the day. In addition, the person or persons in charge of menu planning should incorporate hydrating foods like broths, stews, soups, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, peaches, grapefruit, cottage cheese, and oranges.
Conclusion
Overall, senior living communities do provide meals, and meal plans are often included as part of the monthly fee. However, the type and extent of meal services offered may vary depending on the community.
When touring an independent living community like Danbury, be sure to inquire about the dining experiences, quality and variety of meals, and dietary accommodations. In fact, why not test out the dining experience while you're there? This gives you and your loved one a chance to sample the food and see how friendly and professional the staff is.
