Welcome to Episode 31 of The HQ Podcast! We're excited to have Heather Keller, Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute of Aging, and professor at the University of Waterloo, join us for a special #NutritionMonth discussion about food and the importance of thinking beyond nutrition when it comes to mealtimes in long-term care homes.

Heather shares with us her ground-breaking research and work around CHOICE+ – a set of six guiding principles designed to enhance the mealtime experience for long-term care residents. With several provinces planning to make massive capital investments in long-term care facilities, this research couldn't come at a better time. Heather explains how her findings can be applied to both existing homes and new builds and renovations all with the goal of ensuring that all residents, including those suffering with dementia, can have truly fulfilling and enjoyable dining experiences and improved health outcomes.

Tune in to learn more about the innovative ways Heather is improving the lives of long-term care residents and how we can all think beyond nutrition when it comes to mealtime.

About Heather Keller RD PhD FDC FCAHS

Heather is an internationally recognized expert in geriatric nutrition, assessment, and treatment. Research areas focus on nutrition risk and malnutrition identification and treatment across care sectors; improving nutrition care processes and implementing screening and other best practices; supporting food intake of diverse groups living in the community, including those living with dementia; and improving hospital and residential food and promoting food intake and the mealtime experience in these settings. Professor Keller has led several national research and knowledge translation projects, including the landmark Nutrition Care in Canadian Hospitals, More-2-Eat and Making the Most of Mealtimes in Long Term Care studies. Professor Keller has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and translates much of this evidence into practice with tools and resources. As a founding member and past chair/co-chair (2009-2018) of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, she is involved in translating research into practice and advocating for improvements in nutrition care. She is currently the co-chair of the primary care working group for CMTF and involved in several national and international expert groups advancing the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition.

Helpful Links

Heather Keller | LinkedIn: Click Here

Heather Keller | Twitter: @HeatherHKeller | @nutriagelab

Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Again (RIA) | LinkedIn: Click Here

Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Again (RIA) | Twitter: Click Here

Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Again (RIA) | Facebook: Click Here

Additional Resources: 

CHOICE+ | Website: Click Here

Food Service & Nutrition Management in Healthcare | CHA Learning Program | Website: Click Here

Long-Term Care Executive Leadership | CHA Learning Program | Website: Click Here

People-Centred Care | CHA Learning Program | Website: Click Here

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