Eating with fingers as a therapeutic tool
FINGER FOODS GIVE ELDERLY MORE APPETITE
Finger food, which means as much as “eating with your fingers,” is increasingly seen as an alternative for traditional meals in assisted living facilities. Eating without a knife and fork is a truly therapeutic resource. Finger foods promote autonomy and appetite in seniors.
Therapeutic agent
Finger foods or finger appetizers have become a real trend in today’s gastronomy. Just think of the appetizers offered at receptions or with aperitifs. Yet finger food in a residential care center has nothing to do with the amuse-gueules offered at restaurant with the aperitif, says Benedicte De Zutter, dietician and Marketing Manager at REVOGAN. “Indeed, there is sometimes confusion among the general public about the term finger food. The big difference with finger snacks at, say, a reception is that finger food in a rest or nursing home is actually an alternative to a classic meal eaten with knife and fork. It is a feeding method, which consists of eating small bites from the hand, without using cutlery. This makes it reminiscent of appetizers at aperitifs, but it goes far beyond a classic appetizer here. In an assisted living facility, finger food is a real therapeutic tool, as it meets the needs of some elderly people.”
The dietician says that interpretation about finger foods is therefore really necessary. “Since there are still prejudices about ‘eating with your hands’, it is necessary that sufficient explanation about finger food is always given to the caregivers and the residents of the residential care centers. In addition – and especially today with the corona crisis – the importance of strict hand hygiene must continue to be stressed. If these conditions are met, then finger food is a real alternative to traditional meals in residential and care centers.”
Who benefits from finger foods?
With age, the elderly acquire certain conditions that make it more difficult for them to still eat properly. For example, some elderly people struggle with physical conditions, such as osteoarthritis of the hands or paralysis, which makes using cutlery difficult. Sensory disorders (such as poor vision) also hinder others from eating.
People with mental health problems also enjoy their food again thanks to finger foods. For example, some people with depression lose their appetite and isolate themselves. Others have a walking urge, so they can no longer sit still to eat with knife and fork. With finger bites, they can eat at their own pace while walking.
Finally, this method is also often used for patients with cognitive disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. For those people, eating with their hands is a solution to time-spatial disorientation, attention disorders or apraxia (inability to perform a movement or series of movements).
Benefits of finger foods
Finger foods in residential care centers have many advantages, lists Benedicte De Zutter: “Some elderly people who can no longer use their cutlery become completely dependent on caregivers. By then giving them meals in small bites,which they can then eat with their hands without assistance, they regain autonomy.” “Finger food gives a greater sense of self-esteem as a result,” Benedicte De Zutter continues. ” By being able to eat independently again, the elderly regain self-confidence. We realize that this regained autonomy is essential for self-esteem.” “Thanks to finger foods, the elderly are less reluctant to eat. Small finger bites that have the right consistency restore the elderly’s appetite. We really notice that many residents in an assisted living facility have regained their appetite thanks to the finger food concept. This ensures weight gain and fights malnutrition. This is crucial for their health, but also for their well-being,” added Benedicte de Zutter.
Prepare your own or ready-made products
Large-scale chefs can prepare finger food recipes on their own. The key is to create customized preparations that don’t really deviate from classic menus but are suitable to be eaten without cutlery. According to Benedicte De Zutter, cooks must pay extra attention to taste and also visual appeal in this regard. For example, it has been shown that extra color in the meal is important to get people to eat. An aid in the preparation of finger food meals are binders that allow the structure and consistency of each recipe to be adapted to finger foods. REVOGAN soft & finger food MIX is such a gluten and lactose-free product, which is easy to use and has a neutral taste, so it does not affect the basic ingredients of the meal.
There are also ready-to-eat products that can be given to seniors to be eaten immediately with their hands. Benedicte De Zutter gives as an example ready-to-eat hot meal components from Findus and Meco. The finely pureed foods without pieces with a soft and/or smooth texture can be eaten with the hands, as both hot and cold they retain their shape. Once in the mouth, they lose their structure, making them easy to swallow. Findus timbals and Meco finger foods are delivered frozen and can be easily reheated in a steamer, regeneration cart or microwave.
