Long Term Care and Food

National Long-Term Care Services Standard 

January 31, 2023 

Health Standards Organization (HSO) released their new national Long-Term Care Services standard (CAN/HSO 21001:2023 Long-Term Care Services), which is an update of the 2020 Long-Term Care Services HSO 21001:2020.

Developed over a 23-month process, this new standard incorporates the latest evidence, expertise and lived experience of committee members, and input and feedback from thousands of Canadians. The standard aims to promote good governance, uphold resident-centred care and enable a meaningful quality of life for residents, ensure high-quality and safe care, foster a healthy and competent workforce, and promoting a culture of quality improvement and learning across long-term care (LTC) homes.

The CMTF Long Term Care and Food Working Group encourages service providers, physicians, nurses and dietitians who work in LTC to review the new standard, as nutrition care and food services are an integral component. 

Learn more about this standard, additional reports and how to access it for free here: https://healthstandards.org/standard/long-term-care-services-can-hso21001-2023-e
 

Resources

A list of resources that are relevant to nutrition and food services in Long Term Care Settings 

Best Practices for Nutrition, Food Service and Dining in Long Term Care Homes-A Working Paper of the Ontario Long Term Care Action Group 2019
https://www.dietitians.ca/DietitiansOfCanada/media/Documents/Resources/2019-Best-Practices-for-Nutrition,-Food-Service-and-Dining-in-Long-Term-Care-LTC-Homes.pdf

CHOICE+-Making Most of Mealtimes by the Research Institute for Aging (RIA)
A collection of resources, virtual tours and checklists from CHOICE+, an innovative program that aims to improve the mealtime experience for residents in long-term care. 
https://the-ria.ca/resources/choices/

Making most of mealtimes Summary Sheets, Research Institute for Aging (RIA)
Summary sheets on key findings and recommendations from a research study called Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3). The study explored what residents living in long-term care eat and drink, and what factors promote better nutrition. Developed by the RIA team in collaboration with the M3 research team led by Schlegel Research Chair Heather Keller.
https://the-ria.ca/resources/making-the-most-of-mealtimes.

Meals Matter, Tips to get patients ready for meals Alberta Health Services
A one pager that provides ideas on how to get patients ready for meals and to make meals enjoyable and easy to eat
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-tips-to-get-patients-ready-for-meals.pdf

Menu Planning in Long Term Care and Canada’s Food Guide (2019) - July 2020
A guidance document created by Dietitians of Canada to assist Registered Dietitians, Nutrition Managers, and menu planners to prepare a cycle menu to meet LTC residents’ overall nutritional needs. Based on discussions with engaged dietitians across Canada, L’Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec (OPDQ) and Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (CMTF) about the impact of the 2019 version of Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) on LTC menu planning. 
https://nutritioncareincanada.ca/sites/default/uploads/files/2020-7-10%20DC_CNS_OPDQ%20LTC%20Menu%20Planning%20Guidelines%20ENGLISH.pdf