Person-Centred Care & Dinner Dates: A Recipe for Well-being
Dinner dates in person-centred care are an opportunity to connect and engage with someone in their senior years. Here's how we do it and how you can try it, too.
Person-Centred Care & Dinner Dates: Jen Cooks A Favourite Childhood Dish
At the heart of our person-centred care lies the belief that every client deserves a genuine connection that fosters their physical, emotional and social well-being. We apply this sentiment to every facet of our Home Instead home care.
One simple yet profound way to nurture this connection is by cooking and sharing a meal. The physical act of cooking provides exercise and mental stimulation for someone in their senior years. And that feeling of togetherness is critical for improving their emotional and mental health.
For our amazing care professional Jen and her client, a lovingly prepared hot lunch has become more than a meal – it has become a meaningful experience that demonstrates the principles of compassionate care.
Jen often shares snaps of her client meals through our internal social channel (a tool we use to improve and inspire care provision), and everyone says the same when they see them, “Wow, that looks delicious!” Jen also shares how happy her client is. And you can see it. Two Cheshire Cat smiles, broad and ceaseless.
In fact, we’ve heard so much about these fantastic dinner dates that Care Manager Emma felt compelled to join Jen and her client to see how the lunchtime visits were making an impact on the client’s day.
Person-Centred Care: Jen's Dinner Dates Help Her Client Battle Loneliness
Jen always starts the visit by discussing meal preferences with her client. Instead of deciding for her, Jen involves her client in choosing the dish, creating a sense of autonomy and respect. On this occasion, the client shared a fond memory of their favourite childhood dish. Sausages with onion gravy, vegetables and some bubble and squeak!
Once the meal was ready, they sat together at the dining table. Emma joined them. As they shared the meal, conversation flowed naturally, and they discussed everything from the weather to cherished memories of family gatherings.
Two important things are happening here, firstly, the engagement of the client and secondly, the ability for the client to reminisce. When seniors reminisce, their positive emotions shine through, lifting them out of loneliness by way of recognising their connection to others. In this case, family.
For those experiencing cognitive deterioration or conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s,time shifting can have a significant impact on behaviour and recognition. Clients can live in an alternate reality, more often than not, at an earlier stage of life. Something as simple as a favourite childhood meal can sometimes re-engage them to the point of lucid conversation. You are effectively bringing them back momentarily with something that makes them happy. Or you are entering their world, just for a moment.
For Jen’s client, this interaction helps to combat the loneliness and isolation many older adults face.
Emma later commented that she witnessed the client feeling cared for in a way that is much more than basic assistance. Jen embodied the essence of person-centred care and broke down all the barriers of formality, fostering that deeper bond. A friendship. It’s this distinct difference that is helping keep Jen’s client well. She enjoys a sense of self, meaningful connection and social interaction, and she gets to pass on her family history.
Sharing a meal is a small but powerful gesture that has a big impact.
Thank you to Jen and your client for allowing us a window into what care should look like.
How You Can Enjoy a Dinner Date with Mum or Dad During Care
If you’d like to bring more of this into your family time but are particularly worried that Mum or Dad might not be able to enjoy a meal as you once did, there are a few things you can do.
- Choose a familiar and quiet setting: Their home may be best if they have mobility or cognitive challenges. Keep ambient noise and distraction to a minimum so they can hear you and concentrate on the conversation.
- Keep the senior meal simple: Stick to foods they enjoy within dietary requirements, and remember they may prefer smaller portions. And if they love dessert, make a bigger deal out of that portion of the meal; you’ll see their eyes light up!
- Adapt to their needs: Be patient with any cognitive or motor skill challenges they might face. Offer assistance with food cutting or drink selection and respect their pace.
- Prioritise conversation: Ask open-ended questions about their life experiences, childhood memories, or favourite stories. Actively listen and show genuine interest in what they have to say. And don’t forget to share your own stories and updates. If their mind wanders, don’t be afraid to bring them back with a question you know they have responded to before. Repetition, if it happens, is quite okay. It’s the engagement you are after.
- Incorporate meaningful activities: Bring out old photo albums to reminisce about shared moments or consider a simple activity they can participate in. Sometimes, even if a senior is almost non-verbal through their condition, they can interact in many other ways.
