Analyzing the Operational Differences of Foodservice Center for Homebound elderly by the Presence of the Dietitian

ABSTRACT

The purposes of this study was to analyze the operational difference of foodservice center for homebound elderly by the presence of the dietitian. The questionnaire was developed to measure all variables for menu management and distributed to 103 meal service centers in charge of congregate meal service program and 57 centers for home-delivered meal service program. The data of 160 centers in charge of congregate meal service and home-delivered service centers were usable for analysis. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SAS 8.1 package program for descriptive analysis and chi-square test. Only 21.9% meal service centers had dietitians, what is more, they were not professionals who did menu management but foodservice managers, volunteers, cook or social workers. The current foodservice programs for the homebound elderly were operated without professional. In the part of menu managemet, dietitians were more actively involved in menu planning in the elderly foodservice center in the presence of the dietitians. The performance level of healthcare service was not significantly different, but the nutrition education in the elderly foodservice center with the dietitians was more frequently performed than that without the dietitians(p<0.05). In the food purchasing and food production management, the significant differences were shown that in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians, the proportion of the contract purchasing was significantly higher than that of direct purchasing(p<0.01). In food sanitary management, the significant differences were not shown in the part of management of keeping meal for identifying the cause of food-borne illness and left-over, but the sanitation education for the foodservice employees was performed more frequently by the presence of the dietitians(p<0.01). In conclusion, the foodservice management was more systematically conducted in the elderly foodservice centers in the presence of the dietitians than that without dietitians. The elderly foodservice program has offered the health-related support for homebound elderly. Although there were several problems in elderly foodservice management, the program delivered well-targeted, effective, and efficient nutrition services and wide range of supportive service to the at-risk older population. It needs to be managed by professional for the improvement in the elderly foodservice.