Friends of the Elderly runs care homes, day care services and a grant giving service for vulnerable older people throughout England. The charity is committed to supporting older people to live well in later life.
For residents and day care clients who are living with dementia, the care teams are focused on encouraging independence and providing high quality care with dignity that meets each individual’s needs.
People living with dementia may also experience changes to the foods they like and dislike. This is why the FotE’s care teams and the TNS catering teams work closely together to ensure that meals and snacks are tailored for those living with dementia.
Steve Hughes, business director at TNS, said: “We work closely with the care teams and registered manager at each care home and day care service to determine the individual needs of each resident.
“We produce a weekly menu so that all residents, day care clients and their families can clearly see what the choices are for the week. If a particular resident or day care client wants something different, then we change our menu to ensure they are happy and accommodated.
“Depending on the IDDSI level, we will use innovative techniques and cooking methods to puree the food and make it look authentic, ensuring that the nutritional content is retained. Some of the chefs will use a thickener to help stabilise some of the dishes, but we use fresh ingredients – such as potatoes or other fresh vegetables - to thicken some of the food.”
Each care home and day care service has a range of grazing and hydration stations to help encourage residents and clients to eat and stay hydrated throughout the day.
Cheryl Rothschild, Friends of the Elderly’s care home director, added: “Working with the TNS Team, we ensure we meet the individual needs of everyone we care for. We make sure all our meals and snacks are created using the freshest ingredients and fulfil the needs and likes of every person we care for and support.”