/ Seniors

Help for catastrophic illnesses

An increasing number of people are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. In 2010 in Europe, 5 percent of people over 65, and 20 percent of those over 85 were being treated for these types of illnesses, figures expected to rise as longevity increases. At assisted-living facilities, Sodexo offers specific service solutions to care for these patients and assist them, along with their families and medical staff, in coping with their everyday needs.

In France, for example, at Les Parentèles residences, we have developed a special program to ensure respect for the individuality and personality of each resident. Under the program, families and caregivers are involved in helping maintain patients’ emotional and social ties.

Meals like the ones at home

Service and product quality are always top priorities in the residences we manage. Meal planning is based on the use of fresh ingredients, which are cooked on the premises by our expert culinary staff. Meals are home cooked – no products are warmed up or vacuum-packed – and served at just the right temperature at the residents’ tables. To ensure that mealtime is pleasurable and affords an opportunity for friendly conversation, our teams see to it that the tables are pretty, the atmosphere calm and inviting and the food appetizing and stimulating for the senses.

Dishes adapted to each person’s needs

Illness and the loss of independence affect the way people eat. To meet patients’ individual nutritional requirements and preserve their dignity, Sodexo employees are especially attentive to the quality of the meals we serve and the services we offer.

In France, the program Un air de famille has redesigned foodservices to encourage sensorial and cognitive stimulation, with finger food to enable those who no longer are able to use traditional tableware to eat with their fingers in a dignified way. 

In Australia, the Smartfuel program prevents chronic illnesses through meals with low fat, saturated fat and salt content. The program offers 300 nutritionally approved recipes and a guide to adapt them to the particular needs of each senior. Every year, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, which oversees compliance with the 44 standards in force at assisted-living facilities, reassesses the quality of the Smartfuel program.

In the United States, Sodexo has won many “Best Concept” awards in the Food Management Magazine contest, which recognizes conceptual as well as qualitative culinary innovations.

Home meal delivery

When seniors are still healthy and independent and do not wish to live in a facility for the elderly, every effort is made to help them remain at home under pleasant conditions, particularly by solving the daily problem of grocery shopping and food preparation.

In the United Kingdom, Sodexo works with local authorities to deliver hot meals to the elderly. We offer them a wide selection of menus, taking into account each person’s religious food restrictions and dietetic profile. Our drivers do more than merely deliver meals; they give special attention to the recipients of our services to help ensure their well being.

Creating points of reference

To live life under the best possible conditions, seniors need to exercise their memory, perform repeated gestures and follow a routine to give them points of reference.
Working with specialists, our experts have designed a number of activities specifically intended to maintain and sharpen mental alertness, along with activities that maintain everyday gestures and opportunities for social interaction. Cooking therapy, which involves culinary workshops to stimulate the senses, helps people re-establish a time frame and recover everyday gestures by preparing meals.

In-home assistance for greater autonomy

Demand for delivering home services to dependent people is rapidly developing and diversifying. Specific needs are related to all of the moments of daily life: essential acts (eating, bathing, mobility, housekeeping), conversation and companionship and making trips outside the home to shop, go to work, keep a doctor’s appointment, etc.

In the United States, our subsidiary Comfort Keepers helps elderly and dependent people live in the comfort of their homes. In 2010, the Comfort Keepers network of franchises, operated by professionals who are passionate about their work, had more than 600 independent franchises across the country.

In France, Sodexo plays an active role in helping facilities for the elderly communicate with residents’ families. We send newsletters and individualized reports to families and organize open house visits. These actions are important to reassure family members about the quality of care provided for their loved ones.