The 24-hour nutrition opportunity in senior living

Three meals a day may be convenient operationally, but this structure may not necessarily match residents’ appetites, routines or needs.
Older adults often have a shifting relationship with food. They may feel full sooner, or have reduced appetite or preferences due to medications they are taking. The National Institute on Aging recommends older adults, including those with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, have more frequent, smaller meals and nutrient-dense snacks.
For senior living operators, that creates an opportunity to think beyond the breakfast, lunch and dinner framework. Guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says facilities need not operate 24-hour foodservice, but they should make suitable, nourishing alternatives available to residents who want to eat outside scheduled mealtimes.
Some senior living communities are already embracing greater flexibility. The Cedarhurst Senior Living collection of communities provides all-day dining, including breakfast at any time. There are less labor-intensive approaches too: The Georgia-based senior living community Enrich @ 519 offers a 24-hour snack menu but also has a mini fridge continuously stocked with nutritious options to support residents with limited appetites or off-hours nutritional needs.
Taking small steps can go far in increasing your flexibility. Operators can stock accessible mini-meals — yogurt, sandwiches, fruit, cheese or fortified snacks— and coordinate their availability with residents’ medication, sleep and care schedules. The goal here isn’t to offer round-the-clock cooking but about finding ways to make good nutrition available when residents are ready to eat.