My father is in a nursng home but won't eat the food because he doesn't like it. He has always been particular about meal times, needing a lot of variety (won't eat leftovers and won't just eat what is served, but rather will only eat what he likes). Have spoken to the staff including nurses, dietician and food service manager who are all working to find a solution and are open to suggestions.
What I do is take her a couple of meals every week that I prepare, which honestly, is better than most restaurants. She eats it much more enthusiastically than the blasé food usually served. I can't do it every day, but delicious food twice a week is better than never.
I think they figure the elderly women who can't communicate anymore must not care. I can't live with that, so I speak up. Constantly. I'm a real pain:) xo
Now to answer the question; there are a few residents who have their minds but something physical is wrong with them but they are mobile. They didnt care for the food either so the family purchased dorm sized fridges. In the fridges are foods the resident likes and can help themselves to. If your lo cannot act on his/her own place the liked food items in their and ask the serving cna's to give it your your dad. Bananas are good for the end table that they can give him. At our NH there is an alternative menu item always so the resident (or you) can ask for that. Ours also provides peanut butter and jelly upon request. Another family member brings his mother a baked potato every early evening. Some cities have delivery organizations that will deliver food from any restaurant you want to order from. Perhaps you could schedule this for 1x per day; his favorite italian restaurant etc. If he can help himself the fridge is a good idea cuz he could select with the help of cna what he wants. Unfortunately I would hate it at a NH too. I eat what moves me on a given day which does not happen at a NH. Also, perhaps you could check your jobs lists and see if there is a companion type person for hire that would perhaps 1x a week bring a food item to your father or entire meal. Delivered pizza?
I suggested the fridge. Check with the NH first of course because now our NH claims there is a health issue with having one; foods that expire not being discarded or the staff having to monitor refrigerator temperatures.
Also when mom was with me there was always so much to do. Because I also worked full time exhaustion was my friend. I learned to buy alot of back up items so if necessary I would have good/decent food items if I was too tired to get to the store.
I used alot of baby food items largely the "graduate types. They have ravioli's etc etc. Bananas were good because keeping fresh ones in the house was ongoing so I had these in an emergency. Mom loved all of them. Alot of the fruits require no refrigeration ...could your dad help himself to these and others? Jello and some other brands make pudding cups, chocolate, tapioca and other flavors no refrigeration. Likewise some other brand makes single serving size peaches and pears in single serving (all these things can be there and the cna can provide). Bring your own bottled beverages for him.
The NH wouldnt have to go to too much trouble; EX: tell them what to omit for breakfast and thats it...let dad eat whatever is on the plate that should be the items he likes (since you told NH what to omit). Can he be offered a choice at lunch dinner particularly the main entree if nothing else? In the baby food section I recently found the new food item kids/baby yogurt that does not require refrigeration. Let us know what solutions you find if any.
Down. Boost does make a pudding.
you can take vanilla ensure and add
Flavored syurips such as Choc. Strawberry
Or Carmel. There are a couple of
Companies that make nutrient cookies.
Could something happened to our
Taste buds
some meds could cause that.
I know of a Dr who rx a swig of a good
Wine to clear the taste buds and to
Give an appitite.
It worked
Good luck
Not to be too much of a jerk, but depending on your Dad's age and health, why does he have to eat healthy food? The part of my life that I will spend in a nursing home is one period I won't want to prolong. Who cares if I die at 86 instead of 89? Not me! Let him eat whatever he likes that won't immediately hurt him.
Not all NH are good on food, and some are appalling -- my parents had a dear friend basically murdered by a SNF that gave her entirely the wrong foods for her restricted (kidney failure) diet. Patient KNEW what she wasn't supposed to eat, begged for correct foods, but SNF refused to give her anything but regular diet, swore it was "OK" and that they had "checked it out", etc.(bananas for potassium-restricted diet? what were they smoking!). Not surprisingly she deteriorated and died (they weren't charged, though should have been. Not surprisingly SNF has been cited for other neglect deaths) Nightmare.