Yes.. as a recent retired Nutrition Geriatric Counselor that is true. Education to balance carbs will be taught.. fewer high carb desserts will be provided. Avoiding candy as a snack is a good idea.you should know your diet and choose wisely. Ask for diet education if you are uncertain. Strict old school diabetic diets are unnecessary.. carb balancing is the key..
The assisted living where my parents are don’t even offer low carb options and definitely not low carb dessert options. Sometimes the protein part of the meal is also high carb. They’ve been there for nearly 3 months now and it’s a constant battle. So frustrating.
I know when Mom was in the hospital she picked, from a list, what she wanted for each meal. Not sure about her Rehab. But I would think they would have to provide for certain diets.
Not sure if your doctor can order this. May need to be the doctor who is associated with the facility. Talk to the Director of Nursing and explain you need a diabetic diet and could she/he have the doctor order one. If you get resistance, call your Dr. and ask if he could call the DON and order a diabetic diet.
I can't imagine being in Rehab and being given a cup of coffee, orange juice and eggs and told I had to eat/drink what was given. I am not a coffee drinker. OJ upsets my stomach and I don't care for eggs.
talk to the ombudsman for the facility. generally a diet has to be ordered by an MD, even if the order is for a regular diet. often the 'diabetic' diet is written as regular diet with no concentrated sweets. fresh fruit but not pudding. diet jello but no ice cream. Medicare and state regulations apply in nursing homes and skilled rehab facilities, and the ombudsman may be able to approach issue with management so that the direct care staff do not feel attacked. I know, it shouldn't be about their egos...but nursing homes were so battered by COVID and deaths and bad behaviors on all fronts that a resolution that allows staff to save face may be needed. The ombudsman can serve as the messenger between you and the facility. Once the correct diet is appearing, just thank the kitchen and food service staff for the wonderful food...without sarcasm. or mentioning the past. No point in alienating the caregivers. venting here is a good place for your complaints and concerns, to start with. good luck.
I don't think it's acceptable, but it's very common. I understand the concept that diabetics need to be able to manage their own diets and choose wisely. But often, when my mother was in rehab for a broken hip, she wasn't given enough healthy options to make those choices from. Meals would feature one protein, and sides were all high-carb, starchy foods, things that are cheap for the facility, popular with the patients, and easy to prepare. Vegetable choices were very limited and not always offered every day. I hate to think what a vegetarian with diabetes would do in one of those places.
My mom is a vegetarian from India and she had to be in rehab after a bout of pneumonia at the local hospital. As you so said rightly said, food was a struggle in the rehab & I visited almost daily to make sure she was not accidentally eating meat (this happened a few times). Her diet chart clearly said diabetic with dementia and daily she was given the same pureed carrots, peas, sweet potatoes for lunch & dinner, with a normal serving of cake, jello pudding etc even though the kitchen staff assured me mom would be given only 1/3 of the normal dessert size. Thankfully mom is not a big eater & barely touched the desserts. She also forgot she was eating the same stuff everyday. I guess this was a blessing?! Anyway, I took dinner almost daily
I did have the option of taking Indian vegetarian meals and putting them in the fridge but this became too much for me with all the driving & other things going on in my life and I took only dinner.
No. Even when I was in the hospital for an injury they served me what everyone else was getting. I simply did not eat the bad stuff. I think the mentality in a nursing home is so what you will not live long anyway.
My doctor ordered my diabetic diet and that's what I got. The hospital always gave me the correct diet and they monitor my liquids according to instructions.
That's the only way to ensure you get it.
So, you have no meal options whatsoever? I have never heard of a one meal choice only facility, ever.
Get your doctor to write the order.
Not sure if your doctor can order this. May need to be the doctor who is associated with the facility. Talk to the Director of Nursing and explain you need a diabetic diet and could she/he have the doctor order one. If you get resistance, call your Dr. and ask if he could call the DON and order a diabetic diet.
I can't imagine being in Rehab and being given a cup of coffee, orange juice and eggs and told I had to eat/drink what was given. I am not a coffee drinker. OJ upsets my stomach and I don't care for eggs.
often the 'diabetic' diet is written as regular diet with no concentrated sweets. fresh fruit but not pudding. diet jello but no ice cream.
Medicare and state regulations apply in nursing homes and skilled rehab facilities, and the ombudsman may be able to approach issue with management so that the direct care staff do not feel attacked.
I know, it shouldn't be about their egos...but nursing homes were so battered by COVID and deaths and bad behaviors on all fronts that a resolution that allows staff to save face may be needed.
The ombudsman can serve as the messenger between you and the facility. Once the correct diet is appearing, just thank the kitchen and food service staff for the wonderful food...without sarcasm. or mentioning the past. No point in alienating the caregivers. venting here is a good place for your complaints and concerns, to start with.
good luck.
I did have the option of taking Indian vegetarian meals and putting them in the fridge but this became too much for me with all the driving & other things going on in my life and I took only dinner.