Improving Dietary Options for Elders with Swallowing Difficulties: The Future of Care Food
- CareFood
- Dec 6, 2024
- 1 min read
As the population ages, the number of elderly with swallowing difficulties continues to rise 📈, driving increasing demand for Care Food. Recently, the industry has actively promoted the standardization of Care Food, aiming to provide more suitable and dignified dietary choices for them.
To address this challenge, more restaurants, social enterprises, and healthcare institutions are joining the Care Food movement. They offer soft, minced, or pureed meals that comply with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework, enabling seniors to "dine together" with their families and rediscover the joy of eating 😋.
However, challenges remain. Mr. Jim Cheung Chin-hing, Manager of HKCSS's Solutions Hub, notes that perceptions of food texture vary widely. Even when healthcare professionals explain meal textures to patients and caregivers, confusion persists. Standardized guidelines can establish a common language for medical professionals, care homes, caregivers, and individuals with swallowing difficulties. This clarity will foster a robust Care Food ecosystem in Hong Kong, encouraging more restaurants to participate in providing Care Food 💪🏻.
We are encouraged by innovative initiatives like #TheProjectFuturus’s "Sensory Restaurant on Wheels" program, which brings soft-textured dim sum to elderly care homes, reviving cherished tea-house memories. Such efforts not only deliver delicious meals to elders but also convey social warmth and compassion to them❤️.
Looking ahead, we hope to see more businesses, restaurants, and social service organizations collaborate to expand the Care Food market, offering diverse and appropriate dietary options. Together, we can ensure seniors maintain dignity and savor every meal 😇.
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