Culture change: Improving quality of life by enhancing dining experience in a skilled nursing facility

Serious concerns revolve around the nutritional status and quality of life of residents in skilled nursing facilities. The purpose of this study was to improve the quality of life of the residents of a skilled nursing facility in the San Francisco Bay Area through culture change by creating a home environment and also enhancing dining services through buffet service, beverage/snack service, and diet liberalization. This quantitative study utilized 5-point Likert scale resident satisfaction surveys, weight variance data, and average percentages of food intake. A positive impact of culture change on the nutritional status and satisfaction levels of the residents was observed, hence improving their quality of life in the future.