Meet Amaya, a 26-year-old newly registered dietitian who recently started her first job at a long-term care (LTC) facility in Austin, Texas.
Amaya has been using Dietitian Success Center (DSC) tools to help her keep track of residents and find practical resources for the diverse cases she encounters (she found DSC’s Long-Term Care (LTC) & Nutrition for Older Adults video course super helpful to review for her interview and first days in her new role!)
It’s been just three weeks, and while Amaya had some experience with LTC during her internship, transitioning into this full-time role has been a challenge. As a perfectionist, she’s struggling with imposter syndrome and working hard to build confidence, especially as she navigates the complexity of caring for older adults. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her reading fiction books (Currently reading: A Court of Thorns and Roses) or experimenting with bold new makeup looks—one of her favorite ways to feel confident.
A Day in Amaya’s Life
Today, Amaya is preparing for a new referral. One of her residents, Mrs. Singh, has been having increased difficulty with chewing and swallowing. Recently reassessed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP), Mrs. Singh has been placed on a minced diet. Amaya logs into her DSC Resident Tracker and notices that Mrs. Singh has started to lose weight. Concerned about her nutritional status, Amaya prepares for a care meeting with Mrs. Singh’s family, who often bring food from home to share with her during meals.
Preparing with DSC Resources
Before her day begins, Amaya reviews the Dysphagia Video Course on DSC to refresh her knowledge. She knows she’ll need to support both Mrs. Singh and her family as they adjust to the new minced diet. Amaya navigates to the Dysphagia section in DSC and prints several resources to bring to the care meeting:
- Dysphagia Fact Sheet
- Minced Diet: Tips & Snack Ideas
- Dysphagia: How to Boost Nutrition
- Dysphagia: Foods to CHOOSE for a Minced Diet
These handouts will help the family understand the importance of the minced diet and how to safely continue supporting Mrs. Singh’s nutrition.
Collaborating with Family and Staff
During the care meeting, Amaya explains the minced diet to Mrs. Singh and her family. They express relief knowing that they can continue to support their loved one while ensuring she receives the proper nutrition. Amaya reassures them that they can still bring foods from home, as long as they meet the guidelines for a minced diet.
After the meeting, Amaya checks in with the dining area staff and provides them with the Feeding Practices for Swallowing Disorders Checklist from DSC. This helps the team ensure they are following best practices when assisting residents like Mrs. Singh during mealtimes.
Ongoing Resident Care and Medication Review
Next, Amaya reviews the chart of another resident who is due for reassessment. She notices that this resident was recently prescribed an opioid medication she is not familiar with. To get up to speed, she consults the Medications Reference List for Older Adults Practitioner Guide on DSC. She learns that the medication may cause constipation and dry mouth, common side effects in older adults.
Armed with this knowledge, Amaya makes a note in the resident’s chart and plans to follow up in a few days to check for symptoms like dehydration or bowel movement issues. In the meantime, she prints the Eating Tips for Dry Mouth and Constipation handouts to have on hand in case any questions arise from the resident or their family.
Supporting Palliative Care
Later, Amaya receives a voicemail from the family of a resident in palliative care. They want advice on how to provide comfortable feeding during their loved one’s final days. Amaya remembers that the DSC LTC Video Course covers this topic, so she quickly reviews the section on palliative care and consults the Older Adults & LTC Evidence Summary for additional insights. After reviewing the material, she contacts the family and provides guidance, offering comfort during a difficult time.
Building Connections and Confidence
During lunch, Amaya is approached by a fellow staff member who strikes up a conversation about the book she’s reading, A Court of Thrones and Roses. The conversation is a welcome distraction from her busy day, and Amaya is thrilled to bond with a colleague over a shared interest. The staff member then asks Amaya if she has any tips for a picky eater in her family. While pediatrics isn’t her specialty, Amaya offers to help. After her shift, she emails the Family Meal Builder handout from DSC and connects her colleague with a local pediatric dietitian she found through the DSC community group.
Feeling inspired, Amaya makes a note to watch DSC’s Picky Eating Video Course on the weekend to expand her knowledge for future conversations.
