Food and Dining in Assisted Living: A Cultural Audit of Assisted Living Facilities Meeting Culturally-Diverse Needs

The purpose of this paper is to profile Foods of the World, a cultural program focused on culture and food, to be implemented in assisted living facilities. Currently the United States is experiencing dramatic growth in the number of older adults. The aging population not only constitutes a larger group than in the past, but they are also becoming more diverse in race and ethnicity. With this increase in diversity, cultural preferences for a diverse aging population are constantly being overlooked and attention to cultural needs are often too general. There is a need to concentrate on culturally unique needs of older adults that are going unmet. The majority of assisted living facilities' foods, as well as social and religious activities, are influenced by the "American worldview" regardless of their residents' racial and ethnic backgrounds. This project addresses the need for cultural awareness and how food can be used as a process in providing both educational content and social interaction through the presentation of foods and group dining. The "Foods of the World" program will showcase various presentations of food from different regions and cultures of the world and provide participants with a better appreciation and understanding of others' cultures by experiencing food from these cultures firsthand. The goals of the cultural program are to 1) revitalize a friendly resident-based community, 2) open new perspectives of others' cultures for older adults, 3) create a structured activity that enhances the quality of life for each of the residents, and 4) generate a positive image for the assisted living facilities that implement the program. A cultural audit of residents of an assisted living facility allows for an evaluation of the residents' cultural awareness and interests. Much can be learned from the residents' personal knowledge, experience, and interests regarding their cultural practices. It is possible to evaluate the extent to which residents are culturally competent, as well as what cultures are of interest to them, The results of the assessment can then be tailored to create a specific and personalized program for residents of any assisted living facility to best serve their unique resident populations.