It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

Barbara Braithwaite, Safe Swallowing Team • November 30, 2020

I’ve been out gift buying… thinking about family and friends … what Christmas will mean this year. Every year, we want to make it special and every year it really is. It’s a time of the year I personally love. It’s a chance to catch up with those we’re close to … to chat and laugh and find out about all the happenings from the year as it draws to a close.

Whether we celebrate Christmas or not, those few public holidays often give an opportunity to catch up with those close to our heart. Food is an integral part of all celebrations and get togethers. So often I see families bring food from home to a resident in an aged care facility. Sometimes when they know I’m coming, they’ll hide it in a drawer in case I say it’s not suitable for their loved one. One time, after modifying a resident’s diet and unfortunately suggesting that some of the food lovingly cooked at home wasn’t suitable for him, the family suggested no longer visiting because it would cause too much distress, visiting but not bringing any homecooked food.

That’s not what we want! We just want the resident to be safe… to enjoy family visits… to eat food lovingly made and to have all that appropriately managed. Education, as always, is the key. I hope you enjoy the lead up to this special time of the year.