Member Article

Care home tastes success with improved menu and new supplier

The families of residents at two Gwynedd care homes have praised the improved quality of food following the introduction of a new supplier.

Meddyg Care has brought apetito on board - a dedicated supplier of quality meals for the Health & Care sector - and held a tasting session at both sites to gather feedback from friends and families.

In addition to sampling main meals and desserts, attendees were able to ask questions and find out more about the varied textured options.

The partnership with apetito includes a completely tailored menu to each home in Criccieth and Porthmadog as well as oversight from a dietician to ensure every spoonful delivers the right nutrients.

Within the apetito range are also meals to help Meddyg care cater for specialist dietary needs such as free-from meals, energy dense meals to aid weight gain, or softer meals for those residents living with swallowing difficulties.

Residents have enjoyed the new meals since the start of the summer, and the change has proven popular at Meddyg Care, a specialist dementia nursing home.

Jane, whose Dad lives in the Porthmadog home, said: “The quality of the food has definitely improved as there is added flavour and sharper tastes.

“My Dad has put on weight so it’s incredibly comforting to know he is enjoying his meals and is also getting the right nutrition.

“Events like this are really important to me and the rest of the family and it’s pleasing to know Meddyg Care is working hard to keep us updated and informed with everything that is happening.”

apetito, which is the parent company to Wiltshire Farm Foods, supplies over 600 care homes as well as around 200 hospitals and NHS Trusts across the UK.

Dean Miller, key account manager at apetito, said: “We have worked very closely with the team at Meddyg Care to ensure its tailored menu suits their residents’ needs and preferences as well as providing the right nutrients.

“This has included supplying a wide-range of textured options for those who have difficulty swallowing.

“We firmly believe that people eat with their eyes and are proud of our work to deliver textured meals that are re-shaped into the shape of the ingredient they represent enabling residents to enjoy their meals and dine with dignity. It is really important to us that we deliver an exceptional dining experience and great food to all residents.

“This approach won us a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation where feedback focused on how we have had a significant and positive impact on the wellbeing of our customers by helping to stimulate appetite and increase nutritional intake.

“We’re excited to work with Meddyg Care and it was fantastic to meet the families and hear the positive stories about the meals since we started partnering the homes earlier in the year.

Meddyg Care managing director Kevin Edwards said: “Normally we would have held the tasting session back in July, but we had to delay due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.

“The team has seen first-hand how well the change to apetito has been received by the residents, and it’s been brilliant to have the same chance to hear from the families.

“We are keen to engage with the families on a frequent basis and will be holding more events to continue informing them of the latest changes and news from the care homes.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .