Managers in nursing homes: Optimize work organization with staggered meals

Staggered meals in nursing homes: a solution to better support residents and relieve teams

EHPADs (residential establishments for dependent elderly people) are facing growing challenges: longer life expectancy, increased dependency of residents and often insufficient staffing. In this context, innovative organizational models, such as staggered meals, are attracting more and more interest. These approaches, developed in several countries, not only make it possible to better meet the needs of residents, but also to improve the working conditions of care teams. Let's explore this solution and its impact on the social performance of institutions.

Understanding the growing needs of residents

Residents are arriving in nursing homes later and later, often at an advanced stage of dependency, with serious pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive disorders or reduced mobility. This development increases the workload of the healthcare teams, without them benefiting from a proportional increase in staff. Meal management, a crucial moment of the day, is particularly impacted. With fixed schedules, caregivers have to accompany all residents at the same time, creating peaks of activity that are often sources of stress and exhaustion.

The innovation of offbeat meals

In some countries, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, meals are spread over a wider time slot. For example, lunch can be served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., allowing care to be better distributed and each resident to be accompanied at his or her own pace. In Sweden, several nursing homes have adopted a continuous flow organization. Meals are staggered over a long period of time to avoid traffic jams in the dining room. Caregivers have more time to help residents who need it, thus improving the quality of support.

This organization offers many advantages. It reduces team stress, allows for better adaptation to the needs of residents suffering from cognitive disorders or irregular biological rhythms, and improves the overall atmosphere. These benefits are felt by both residents and staff.

Adapted team organization

With staggered meals, team schedules must be reorganized to spread tasks over the whole day. For example, mornings can be devoted to the gradual distribution of breakfasts and first aid. Lunchtime, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., is dedicated to assistance with meals and complementary care. The afternoon is dedicated to snacks, activities, and grooming residents who need it, while the evening covers adapted slotted dinners and bedtime preparation.

Teams can be organized in rotations to ensure continuity of care while limiting overload. Caregivers alternate between helping with meals, care and activities, promoting fluid cooperation and a diversification of tasks.

Social performance and well-being of caregivers

The positive impact of staggered meals is not limited to residents. Caregivers benefit from better working conditions. By having more time to support residents, they feel more recognition and a better work-life balance. This organization also reduces stress and the risk of burnout, which translates into a significant decrease in turnover and greater team stability.

The results observed in pilot establishments, such as a nursing home in Saône-et-Loire, are telling. This facility has reduced sick leave related to psychosocial disorders by 30% and increased the satisfaction of families and residents. In the Netherlands, the Buurtzorg model, although focused on home care, proves that autonomous teams and flexible schedules can reduce turnover and improve caregiver satisfaction.

Challenges and levers for a successful implementation

Despite its many benefits, setting up staggered meals is not without its challenges. The recruitment of additional staff may be necessary to cover extended time slots. Training teams in new practices, such as the management of biological rhythms or the use of digital tools, is essential. In addition, resistance to change can hinder the adoption of this flexible organization.

To overcome these obstacles, it is crucial to involve teams in the thinking and development of schedules, to invest in digital tools to optimize schedules and to ensure transparent communication with residents and their families.

Towards a better quality of life in nursing homes

Staggered meals represent an innovative solution to meet the challenges of nursing homes. By adapting schedules to the needs of residents and lightening the workload of caregivers, these models make it possible to reconcile social performance and quality of life. Experiments carried out abroad and in France show that this organization can transform nursing homes into more humane and peaceful places, both for residents and for teams.

Investing in such practices not only improves the daily lives of the elderly, but also gives meaning to the work of caregivers. This is an essential perspective to prepare the future of nursing homes.