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CHOICE+

Topics: Culture Change, Nutrition and Hydration

Mealtimes aren’t just about eating; they are an opportunity to connect, share, and build relationships. In retirement, assisted living, and long-term care (LTC) homes, mealtimes are a valuable opportunity for social engagement and meaningful connection. 

Research shows that older adults who enjoy mealtimes eat more and experience improvements in their quality of life. 

CHOICE+ is a research-informed program that uses a relationship-centred approach to help team members improve the mealtime experience in retirement, assisted living, and LTC homes. The program helps ensure that people’s preferences are respected, dignity is honoured, and the dining environment is supportive and positive. Designed to help build organizational capacity, CHOICE+ provides team members with a framework to make lasting change.

CHOICE+ Program Consists Of:

Champions for Change

The Champions for Change e-learning course is built on the six CHOICE+ Key Principles. Based on change management strategies, it supports the creation of an engaging, person-centred mealtime experience.

The Champions for Change e-Learning will equip you to:

  • inspire staff to make improvements and incorporate a relationship-centred approach to care. 
  • engage key stakeholders to build commitment and increase staff participation. 
  • identify opportunities for improvement in mealtime practices at your retirement, assisted living, and LTC homes. 
  • track progress and celebrate wins to maintain momentum.

 

Get Started:

Before getting started, the leadership team should understand and be committed to improving the mealtime experience. Complete a Pulse Check to see if CHOICE+ is right for your organization. 

CHOICE+ Champions for Change is aligned with the HSO LTC Standard (2023), the Fixing LTC Act (2021), and the Retirement Homes Act (2010).

Create meaningful change, enroll in the CHOICE+ Champions for Change Course

Lead Researchers

Heather Keller, RD, PhD, FDC, FCAHS, FCNS

Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging

Program Team

  • Priyanka Lloyd, Manager, Programs
  • Jennifer Judges, Communications Manager
  • Abby Witmer, Project Coordinator
  • Sarah Wu, Gerontological Researcher

Content development was supported by the CHOICE+ Advisory Committee, members of the Nutrition and Aging Lab, and RIA staff, with funding provided by the Ontario Government to Ontario for Learning, Research, and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI), Alzheimer Society Research Program (doctoral award), and the University of Waterloo’s Network for Aging Research. A special thank you to the homes, residents, families, and teams who participated in the developmental and pilot studies for CHOICE+.

There are no “Related Projects” associated with this Program.