Trained To Cook For Seniors
Culinary CompanionsŪ receive specialized training in food handling, food preparation and cooking for seniors.
Seniors Should Enjoy Mealtimes
Mealtimes are important events in the typical day of any person, including seniors. Just thinking of the taste and aroma of your favorite foods can make your mouth water.
Our Culinary Companions® are trained to prepare tasty meals for seniors, as well as make the process a positive experience. In addition to addressing the need to satisfy one's hunger and supplying the nutrition necessary to support good health, our Companions design mealtimes to:
- Provide a feeling of familiarity - "comfort food".
- Fill a home with pleasant aromas that stimulate appetite. In addition, the offer textures our clients prefer and enjoy.
- Encourage good feelings, provide social interaction, and hopefully even bring back fond memories.
Why An Elder May Not Be Eating Properly
You may notice that your senior loved one avoids eating, has lost their appetite and/or is not eating properly. This can happen for a variety of reasons.
- Decreased Sense Of Taste/Smell - Often a part of aging, this can take some of the joy out of eating by making foods seem bland.
- Tendancy To Be Frugal - This generation has experienced depression, wars and rationing. Plus, they remember when food bills were much smaller. So many seniors have a tendency to skimp, even when it is not necessary or in there overall best interest.
- Personal Limitations - Preparing meals can be overwhelming (and even scary) to those who can no longer reach a cabinet, grip a pan handle safely, or see clearly what they are cutting with a knife.
- Reactions To Foods - Eating may be avoided if it results in discomfort due to acidity, allergies and other imbalances.
- Chewing &/Or Swallowing Problems - Eating may be avoided if it hurts to eat. Gum problems and dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) are common among seniors.
- Loneliness - Many seniors no longer have a special someone to cook for, or to share a meal with.
Guided By Our Executive Chef
Our Culinary Companions ® and caregivers are trained in the art of cooking for seniors by Henrė Chazaud. Henrė is an Executive Chef and a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America.
Henrė puts a lot of thought and experience into designing our Keepsake Cuisine program, and creating menus and recipes for individual seniors.
Culinary Companion® Expertise
Here are some examples of how our Culinary Companions® prepare meals for our senior clients that focus on proper nutrition and improving lives.
- Increase the amount of spice, flavor and aroma to fit a person's ability to taste and smell.
- Often, a frugal senior who likes to shop will be taken on a quick, small-list errand. This provides the enjoyment without so much stress.
- For seniors who love to cook but have limitations, our companions include them in the meal preparation experience. They may follow a client's favorite recipe, work as a team, and/or set the senior up to do things they can do safely.
- For those with mouth ulcers, sensitive gums, gastritis and other ailments exacerbated by acid high intake, Companions prepare foods with less acidity. For example, a leaner cut of meat may be used that will not be fried nor will it be marinated in tomato sauce.
- For those who have difficulty chewing steak, Companions cut it into small pieces. Then, to add to the visual appeal and help to boost appetite, they will reassemble the pieces to look like an appetizing piece of steak.
- To soften meals for those with sore gums, our Companions will braise and stew entrees.
- Companions will keep the focus on eating when there are appetite and/or swallowing issues. They may reduce distractions and won't ask questions until the person is finished swallowing.
- At the same time, Companions make mealtime a socially stimulating time of day. They chat about the news, ask about the client's family and share appropriate events in their lives.
