#36 If I get dementia, will they serve me meat? Advance Care Planning for vegans and vegetarians with Amanda Woodvine

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Amanda Woodvine, CEO of Vegetarian for Life. I learn about the surprisingly high number of older vegans and vegetarians living in care homes, the challenges that can be experienced and I find out about some of the great resources available to help.

Key messages from guest

• Vegetarian for Life is the only charity in the world supporting older vegans and vegetarians and those who care for them. 

• Vegetarian Housing Association supplied sheltered housing for vegans and vegetarians, this wasn’t the best model to provide accessible careand, from these origins, Vegetarian for Life was formed. 

• Amanda talks through the story of Serena Coles and the memory she retained of her veganism after her diagnosis of dementia. 

• Vegetarian for Life is a charity that supports and represents older vegetarians and vegans and those who care for them.

• For individuals: Support from the charity includes grants to support independent living; a self-advocacy pack; guides, including meals delivered to your door; and a pen- and phone-pals scheme.

• There are many ways to ensure that care providers recognise your ethical beliefs. The key steps and sources of support are outlined in the Self-Advocacy Pack available on the vforlife.org.uk website.

• For carers: Support from the charity includes caterer training, menu planners, recipes, awards for excellence, and a Memory Care and Inclusivity Pledge.

• The memory Care and Inclusivity Pledge consists of five simple good practice points that care establishments can follow to ensure that vegetarian and vegan residents experiencing capacity issues or cognitive losses will be offered a choice of meals, drinks and snacks that uphold their ethical beliefs.

• Good practice recommendations include offering the resident the opportunity to eat at a vegetarian-only, or vegan-only table when possible, and in the event of an ‘accidental’ choice to eat meat, offering an alternative that upholds their philosophical beliefs.

• These recommendations are suggested because Vegetarian for Life is aware of vegetarian residents experiencing issues with capacity or cognition who may otherwise pick meat from others’ plates in a care setting.

Resources

• Resources for carers 

• Memory Care and Inclusivity Pledge 

• Resources for older veg*ns 

• Self-advocacy for vegans and vegetarians receiving care 

• Serena Coles explained her veganism from the 1970's 

• Talking Mats

Bio

Amanda’s early career was spent working as a Wills and Probate Executive. With around two decades’ experience of NGO governance and operations, she joined Vegetarian for Life’s board as a trustee in 2009, and is now its CEO. She is also Vice Chair of a charity supporting people living with dementia.

Find out more about my Bespoke Consultancy

• Service analysis for teams seeking to improve EoLC or prepare for CQC

• End of Life Care Education

• Lasting Power of Attorney Consultancy

• Talks and presentations

If you’d like to find out more about my work contact me.

What one thing will you do?

It would be great to share what resonated with you from this episode, what is the one thing you will do differently? Head to Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn to continue these important conversations.

Thanks to all my guests for working with me to share their knowledge, experience and stories about Advance Care Planning. I hope you enjoyed listening and have insights to take away; I love hearing your reflections on the series and look forward to reviews on Spotify where you can also subscribe to the series.

Clare

Important Conversations about Important Conversations.