Challenge
At many Danish care centres, food comes from central kitchens which are not geographically linked to the care centres they supply. This means that citizens cannot be involved in the planning and preparation of their meals – or observe and experience cooking in local kitchens. At the same time, ensuring that citizens' individual nutritional needs are met is a challenge.
Approach
Odense Municipality asked Epinion to conduct an analysis that could provide answers to what it would mean for citizens' dining experience and quality of life if their food was prepared locally at the care homes. Epinion conducted a qualitative study of a local food effort which ran as a pilot project at selected care centres in the municipality. Through observational studies and in-depth interviews, Epinion obtained close and in-depth insight into people's perception of the effort and its impact on their mood, satisfaction and quality of life.
Resolution
Epinion’s analysis provided insight into the relationship between the food served at care centres and the quality of life of citizens. Odense Municipality used the analysis in their further work on public involvement in the field of elder care, as well as using it as documentation for whether the food effort in question should be implemented and extended throughout the municipality.
