Bringing Culture to the Table: Inclusive Mealtimes in Long-Term Care Homes

The food we eat is often tied to our culture. If our meals don’t match the smells and tastes we know and love, we might not eat or drink enough. This can affect quality of life and overall health. As the population of older adults grows and becomes more diverse, it’s important for long-term care homes to offer a variety of foods that everyone can enjoy.

That’s why Safura Syed MSc, RD, PhD(c) , registered dietitian and PhD student in Heather Keller 's Nutrition and Aging Lab, is leading a study focused on culturally inclusive food in long-term care homes. As the Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging, Keller’s research programs cross the continuum of care and are focused on improving nutritional status, food intake and the mealtime experience of older adults. Her Nutrition and Aging Lab with the 加拿大滑铁卢大学 is involved in developing and evaluating a variety of interventions focused on improving food and fluid intake for older adults, including those who are vulnerable, frail or living with dementia.

In her study, Syed is researching the challenges and supports food service managers and dietitians face in creating diverse menus.

“Not serving food that aligns with an older adult’s cultural background can make them feel left out,” explains Syed, “Food is important because it’s part of who we are and where we come from.”

Syed is also talking to residents and their families about how being served food from their culture affects their sense of belonging and makes them feel more at home. She’s using what she learns to help figure out the best way for LTC homes to include foods from all cultures in their meals.

Syed has found that personalized menus, acknowledging various holidays and religious days, and giving residents a chance to share their input, all help meet residents’ cultural preferences.

“Eating food that tastes like home can make people eat better and stay healthier,” says Syed. “By making sure everyone has food they enjoy and are familiar with, we can help everyone feel better and respected.” Learn more about Keller's and Syed's study.

Drive Change for Older Adults?

Get involved with the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) initiatives related to food and lifestyle.

1. Culturally Inclusive Menu Planning in Long-Term Care: Help us understand how menu planning happens in your LTC home and determine what barriers and facilitators you have experienced in developing culturally inclusive menus. Your perspective on how we can create culturally inclusive menus will help us improve menu planning in Ontario LTC homes.
2. DELIGHT Lifestyle Intervention Program: Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT) is an 8-week lifestyle intervention program designed to support people living with dementia, and their care partners.
3. Virtual Lifestyle Intervention for Better Brain Health: Studies have shown that lifestyle behaviours, such as exercise and healthy diet have a positive effect on memory and thinking abilities, and can delay cognitive decline related to aging. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an online exercise and healthy lifestyle intervention in individuals 65-85 years old with concerns about their memory and thinking abilities.

Are you a researcher or healthcare professional? Subscribe to “RIA Insiders” our monthly newsletter highlighting the latest research, KMb products and events.

Want more resources like these? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter “Aging 360” and stay connected with what’s new in aging.