Social Cognition and Meals at Maple Crest

For nursing home residents socialization is a big part of daily life. The increased percentage of depression in adults over 55 is not an unavoidable part of aging but something that positive social interaction can help to stave off (Margrett, et al., 2010). In a review of a study concerning depression in the elderly (Margrett, et al., 2010) suggests that in those nearing 100, an appreciative view of their maintained abilities can lead to a more positive outlook overall This indicates that positive interactions where residents focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t are powerful in keeping them mentally engaged.

            At Maple Crest breakfast, lunch and dinner are served “family style”. This gives each resident not only the power of choice but the opportunity for essential interactions with peers and staff. In many households the dinner table has traditionally been the gathering place for all occasions. Likely many residents can recall passing stories around the table along with the main dish. Instead of an unfriendly and alienating cafeteria atmosphere, the dining area at Maple Crest includes large circular tables situated to allow for clusters of residents to gather around and share a meal together.

            For many, there is no precedent for interactions in nursing homes. When confronted with new situations people tend to fall back on previous experiences, using what they have experienced in the past to base new interactions off of or social knowledge (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2010). While being confronted with a whole new way of life and having no social knowledge to rely on for many interactions could be depressing, the simple act of sharing a meal together can give comforting context to many residents. Similarly, when individuals are accustomed to forming their own menus and determining their own meal times, it could be distressing to move into a new facility where this is predetermined. While it is necessary to have some of these factors set up ahead of time in order for cooks and staff to orchestrate dining for all residents, Maple Crest provides as many options as possible in order to give each resident their own choices. Every lunch and dinner comes with several options which can be put together in several ways resulting in a number of different meal combinations available to each individual. The power to choose between chicken or beef, yams or mashed potatoes, and baked beans or mixed veggies all in one meal is significant when depending on others for many other tasks in one’s life. Maple Crest has done a remarkable job of offering options and comfort simultaneously, creating daily opportunities for the mental enrichment of all their residents.

References

Cavanaugh, J. C. & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2010). Adult development and aging. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2010)

Margrett, J., Martin, P., Woodard, J. L., Miller, L. S., MacDonald, M., Baenziger, J.,…& Poon, L. (2010) Depression among centenarians and the oldest old: Contributions of cognition and personality. Gerontology, 56, 93-99. doi: 10.1159/000272018