Dietitians know food can be the most powerful form of medicine.

From the earliest human food of insects, animals and wildvegetables to our 21st century diet of refined grains and industrialized farming operations, food has evolved to be helpful or harmful.

“Food is important to everyone,” says Elizabeth Dares-Dobbie, a registered dietitian (RD) at Helen Henderson Care Centre and Carveth Care Centre.

“Food is so much more than just nutrition,” she explains. “It goes back to let food be your medicine.”

A dietitian with more than 30 years of experience in acute care, psychiatric care and primary care, Elizabeth has transitioned to private practice with a focus on long-term care. She is passionate about helping people improve their relationship to food.

“People eat food, the nutrition is what is in it,” she says.

For humans, good food is vital to maintain proper health and prevent disease. But while nutritious food improves health, unhealthy food can be deadly. Human cells, tissues and organs function better when processing nutritious food.

“Food is an integral part of what we do every day,” says Elizabeth about the work of an RD to identify food that optimizes a person’s health.

For residents in long-term care, food is more than fuel for their bodies. Meals provide social interactions, daytime structure and personal routines.

“Food has tremendous meaning such as love, status and security. In long-term care, food plays a critical role in a resident’s life,” says Elizabeth.

A member of a team of healthcare professionals who form a Circle of Care for every resident, the dietitian plays a vital role in every Plan of Care. Upon admission, the dietitian conducts an assessment to determine the diet a resident needs to obtain/maintain optimal health.

When completed, the meal plan is shared with the resident and their power of attorney (POA) for consent. This practice of obtaining Informed Consent allows the resident and their POA to accept the recommended dietary treatment plan or an alternate plan.

“Some people have very different views about the menu options (to be offered) to someone in their care,” explains the dietitian. “A lot of people don’t think diet is a treatment, but it’s called medical nutritional therapy and people can choose not to follow the recommendations.”

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provides funding to dietitians for 30 minutes a month for each resident in their care.

Residents are rated on nutritional risk of high, moderate or low. According to Elizabeth, many people in long-term care are high nutritional risks due to issues such as diabetes, frailty, cognitive disorders and multiple health co-morbidities.

Faced with the unique challenges of providing medical treatment to people in assisted living, a dietitian’s role continues to evolve; similar to the development/preparation of food.

With change the only constant in life, Elizabeth finds success by focusing on the wellbeing of the residents in her care.

“You’re giving care and you’re advocating for your residents. That’s all you can do,” she notes.

“I try to stay centred on my role.”

To learn about medical nutritional therapy, contact Elizabeth Dares-Dobbie atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.