Gathering together to share a meal is a simple, time-honoured way to connect. Fostering this connection for residents at The Priory, a long-term care home in Langford, is now easier, thanks to Eldercare Foundation and our donors.
Standard dining tables don’t take into account the unique needs of residents in long-term care. While some residents are able to walk, to feed themselves and generally experience few barriers to eating, other residents may not have the same abilities. For residents who use wheelchairs, or need assistance with feeding, a regular dining table can disrupt the comfort and ease of mealtime.
When Theresa Martell, Clinical Nurse Leader at the Priory noticed the impact that the standard dining tables were having on residents, she wanted to make a difference for them. “I saw that the tables we had weren’t really working, and I wanted to give the wonderful people we care for a better experience when it comes to one of the most basic functions.”
Theresa reached out her Manager, Paul Charlton with her observation – there had to be a better way for Priory residents to experience mealtime. Paul was in full support and submitted a request to the Eldercare Foundation for funding for accessible tables that would take the different needs of residents into account. The new tables look like a detached cloverleaf, connected in the middle but with four separate surfaces that can each be easily raised or lowered to meet the unique needs of each diner.
“It was very easy to approve the request. Accessible dining tables that accommodate a variety of needs is exactly the kind of project that Eldercare Foundation loves to support: it’s a simple intervention that makes a big difference in the quality of life and comfort of residents in long-term care,” says Eldercare Foundation Executive Director Tom Arnold.
Mae McSorley is a family caregiver for her mom, Bea. A resident of the Priory for just over three years, Bea has been on a dementia journey for a while now, and most of her abilities aren’t what they used to be. One of the skills she has lost more recently is the ability to feed herself.
“The old dining tables, they were solid and you couldn’t really move around, they had no way to customize them for each person,” says Mae. “The new tables make a world of difference not just for my mom’s comfort, but for me too – I can more easily help my mom with feeding, and everyone at the table is just more physically comfortable, which makes coming to the table together so much more enjoyable.”
Our heartfelt thanks to all of Eldercare Foundation’s donors who have helped us make a real difference in the lives of long-term care residents like Bea, as well as their family caregivers, like Mae.