How important is socialization for improving senior nutrition?
Americans are social creatures for the most part. And good food and good company go hand-in-hand, and certainly that fact does not go away as we age. We tend to associate food with memories – fresh baked bread on cold winter days, warm chocolate chip cookies shared with friends after school, church potlucks, big holiday meals – the list goes on and on. Even those people living in assisted living and nursing home settings need socialization during meals. Many long-term care communities encourage their care staff to sit and enjoy meals with the residents they care for. This enhances not only the meal, but also the relationship between the caregiver and the person receiving the care.
