FAW: In big nursing homes the annual staff turnover rate ranges averages around 76 percent. But in the last three years the St. John’s homes have lost only three people, in part, says Green House guide Nancy Fee, who mentors, trains and supports the staff, because caregivers here are responsible for running the homes.
NANCY FEE (Green House Guide): We have empowered them to make decisions within their household. And so they take the responsibility of planning their menus, ordering their food, deciding what, what do the elders want.
FAW: Caregivers prepare the meals which are served whenever the elders want to eat. No pre-assigned routines, no kitchen shutting down at set times. For 85-year old Phyllis Southard that means getting the food she likes.
PHYLLIS SOUTHARD(Green House Resident): My specialty has been eggs with a little bit of cheese on it ”” a slice of cheese. And that’s good.
[blockquote] FAW: Caregivers prepare the meals which are served whenever the elders want to eat. No pre-assigned routines, no kitchen shutting down at set times. For 85-year old Phyllis Southard that means getting the food she likes. [/blockquote]
Sounds grand — but what do you do with elderly folk like my mother who seems to not feel hungry — and so doesn’t eat unless prompted. She was getting severely malnourished before we set up fixed and supervised mealtimes.
I don’t know how often this lack of appetite happens, but we have the impression from her doctor that it is not at all uncommon.