Over the last few weeks I have talked to a lot of individuals who work with an array of different populations. These individuals work in facilities like retirement, assisted living, nursing homes, group homes, day programs, hospitals and community settings. To be transparent with all of you, while the majority of these individuals do work in recreation not all of them do.

When I started these conversations it was with the intention of getting to know what they do on a day to day basis, just trying to expand my own knowledge. As the conversations continued though, I realized just how different facilities and even the professionals themselves view their jobs. The role they saw recreation therapy play in their facility.

I took away a lot of things from each conversation but my mind has settled on one particular topic. Feeding.

To be completely honest I thought, at least in nursing homes, feeding was a part of our job. It was a role we all played a part in. I quickly learned how wrong I was with each person I talked to.

Some of you said you have to help feed, some said you don’t feed and some of you said it depends on the day. Some of you talked about how it felt like it wasn’t a part of our role, that it shouldn’t be something you have to do and others said its a part of their day they really enjoy. Some said they just do the drink cart, some said they just hand out the plated and clean up while others said they sit down to help feed.

In the nursing home that I work in, I do feed my residents. For every meal that I am in the building, if I’m free, I’m on my unit helping. I do it all from making drinks, to delivering plates, to feeding residents, to helping clean up afterwards.

This last week I made an honest effort to be mindful while feeding. I have been helping feed since I was in high school. These conversations have made me realize that I’m never been fully present when it comes to thinking about this task. I never took the time to think about why it was or wasn’t something I should be doing. I made an honest effort to pay attention to not only myself but also my residents, my team, and how it shaped my day to day tasks.

So, what did I learn?

Honestly, I absolutely love feeding (although this doesn’t come as a surprise to me). I absolutely love getting to be involved in meal times and how it brings everyone together. It reminds me a lot of family meal times, a little chaotic but filled with smiles, laughter, and togetherness. I truly love how each meal brings everyone together.

At the end of the week I sat down and began jotting down what I was thinking and feeling on paper.

Fun little fact about me, I love the feeling of pen on paper and I find it helps me organize my thoughts better. That said, I’ll be completely honest, if anyone else looked at my notes they would probably think it was chaos on paper.

As I was writing, I quickly realized that there were quite a few benefits to being involved in meals. I managed to narrow them down to four main points.

So heres why I think you, whoever you are, should take the time to be involved in meal times are your faciity. Whether it’s a mandatory part of your role or not.

Supports Your Team

From the time you enter this field, no matter the population support, we’re taught about how we need to advocate for what we do. How we need to fight for the respect of our co-workers and show the world that therapeutic recreation is essential. Sometimes I think we get to caught up in needing to show, show what we do and why we do it.

We are a field that is constantly working and interacting with other fields. We work alongside nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, physio, personal support workers, specialists and more. Sometimes the best way to advocate for ourselves is to take a minute and appreciate what those on our team do. Ask them about the roles they play, ask them about what they do and why they do. Show them that you understand why they are an important member of the team and show them that you see and hear them.

Taking the time to assist with feeding, delivering drinks, setting up for physio’s program, helping a nurse input information into the computer or helping the environmental team wipes off the tables is just as important as doing our own work.

If we don’t respect those on our team, how can we expect them to respect us?

Building Rapport

One of the key elements we focus on as a profession is developing rapports. Having a rapport is essential when it comes to being able to do our job because without the trust of those we support, we won’t be able to do the best work we can.

When you think of eating a sit down meal and food, what do you think of? For many it’s family, socialization, happiness, togetherness, relaxation and love. Food brings people together. As James Beard wisely said “Food is our common ground, a universal experience”.

Even though we’re not sitting there eating with them, we’re joining them in the experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re serving the drinks, delivering the plates, helping them cut up their food, helping them to eat their food or just sitting with them, you being there makes a difference. They will hear you, see you and feel your presence.

Food brings people together, food is one of the many ways we can work with those we support to help build trust and a rapport.

Advocation

Meals can provide a lot of opportunities to advocate for those that we support. Most facilities have meals altogether, this means that you will have a lot of staff in one area. Take the time to use these opportunities.

Some of you may be thinking, how can I advocate during meal times? Well, to give you some ideas I’ve come up with a short list.

• Remind your team members that conversation should be inclusive and that the individuals you support should be involved. If they can’t be involved, those conversations shouldn’t be happening in this environment.
• Respect and Dignity – Eating is a very intimate thing and sometimes we forget that. We forget that something we do on a daily basis is so important. This is a great time to delicately remind our team member that if someone wants to feed themselves, even if it’s a little messy, let them. If someone eats at a slower pace then others, thats okay. If someone needs help cutting something, help them in a respectful way. If someone can’t feed themselves, that doesn’t mean we treat them like a child.
• Choices. It’s important that we provide choices and allow those that want to choose the opportunity to do so. If they get to choose between two different items, let them choose and don’t decide for them. Take the time to allow them to think about what they want and listen to how they’re communicating to you. Whether its with their eyes, a nod of the head, their body language or their words. Let them choose.

Now like I said, this is just a short list. You don’t have the be defined by the items I’ve included. Feel free to think outside the box and find other ways that you can use meal times to be an advocate.

Family Conversations

For many of us, we spend a lot of time interacting with loved ones. Whether it’s an individuals parent, brother, sister, grandparent, significant other, or spouse we normally get asked the very important “How are they doing?”.

Obviously this is where we can talk about what we’ve been doing with them, the programs they are taking part in, their general mood, and what they have been up to. Past what we do with programming, we normally have to hand the phone over to someone else. What if we could do more though?

Now, I’m not saying step out of your scope of practice by talking about things like medication and x-rays. What I am saying though is something as small as getting involved with meals can give us more to tell a loved one.

We don’t necessarily realize it, but meals can help us gather a lot of information if a loved one asks. Things like:

• are they eating? are they not eating?
• How are they feeling today?
• What’s their mood like?
• How much are they eating?
• Are they socializing with others or keeping to themselves?
• Are they independent or do they need more support?

While it may not seem like a lot, to a loved one this information can mean the world. It shows that we care, that we’re really doing everything we can to provide the best support. That we’re listening and paying attention.

Now, I’m not saying you have to feed. Some facilities won’t let you, some of you don’t have the time and others just may not be comfortable. What I am saying though is consider it and tasks like meals.

Consider stepping outside of your comfort zone to take on other tasks. Think about the tasks that you do on a daily basis and consider the benefits. Considering why what you are doing is important.

Taking the time to feed can make all the difference in helping us be the best professionals that we can be.