Outcomes

We began with a breakfast club facilitated by a staff member. The staff member did the actual cooking and then had the residents serve themselves. This gave the residents the ability to choose and therefore met their creative needs as well as their interpersonal needs of conversation and interaction with other staff.

Due to the success of the weekly breakfast club, the residents requested the ability choose the items, prepare and then eat. Since breakfast is difficult to have residents participate in preparing due to the early hour, it was decided to implement a lunch club. Residents choose the menu, usually something not typically on the menu, and assist in the preparation. This program has now been implemented throughout the nursing home, not just on the dementia unit. Residents look forward to having different food that they cook themselves.