By Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD

We received this question from a reader:
I wonder if management at a few memory care/skilled nursing facilities would provide any worthwhile information on how those with dietary preferences due to veganism, religious beliefs, etc. could make those known in advance of becoming a resident? And if management could provide any insights on how to ensure that your requests are followed?

Dr. Berkoff replied:

There is little uniformity in memory care/skilled nursing facilities dietary policies. Facilities need to follow federal, state, and local laws and mandates, but the provision of services or enforcement vary from area to area, facility to facility.

So, the suggestion would be to consider requests on a case-by-case (or facility-to-facility) basis. Depending on the facility’s policy, a doctor’s order for a specific type of diet (vegan, kosher, gluten-free, etc.) could be helpful to establish the “official” need. Prior to admission, it could be helpful to have a forthright and detailed conversation with the person “in charge” of ensuring dietary requests are followed. Request a copy of the vegan foods the facility offers on a regular basis, to ensure the selection is nutritious, varied and meets the patient’s needs.

Visiting with the facility’s administrator to ascertain who is responsible for day-to-day patient care could be a helpful step. Obtain names, title and their weekly schedule to have a go-to person. Depending on the facility, beyond the dietary/food service staff or nursing staff, a social worker, case manager, patient services coordinator could be a useful advocate. Depending on the location, there may be an area ombudsman or patient advocate’s office, who might be contacted if reasonable dietary requests are not being honored on a regular basis.

Note from the Editors: If any readers have experience with this situation either as a health professional or family of a resident, please share with us.

The contents of this email, our website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.