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First published April 30, 2019, on The Northern Dispatch website, by the author.
While looking through (and jettisoning) some virtual desktop materials, I found photographs I took for a story I wrote for Foodservice News back in 2009 about nutrition at assisted-living/memory-care facilities. It was an interesting story to write, one that obviously gets one thinking about their own mortality, but it was a reassuring and uplifting experience to see the thought and care that the administrators, nutritionists and cooks put into the meals, and the dignity given residents in various states of health by those serving those meals.
For example, some residents in memory care had begun to lose the ability to swallow efficiently, so purée-ing food had become a requirement for certain foods. But, food evokes powerful memories, and prompting memories is an important piece of maintaining engagement, presence-of-thought and overall quality-of-life as this stage. Thus, peas, being a potential choking hazard, would be puréed, but then the purée would be placed in a mold and, voila, there would be peas that would look like peas on the plate, but not be the choking hazard, and not be a lump—not only less recognizable, but possibly demeaning.
When I was thinking about photos for the story, I tried to anticipate what the obstacles might be. First, there was a population not able to meaningfully give permission to take their photograph. Nor should I ask. Nor should I intrude at all, or use a flash, particularly in memory care where it would be disruptive and unnerving. So, a BIG lens, high ISO, a quiet shutter, and shot from angles at the perimeter of the room. Any faces featured in full would be the servers, who turned out to be perfect—they conveyed the care and thoughtfulness shown to the residents with their facial expressions. I also focused on the kitchen aspect and the food itself.
The administrators I interviewed were fine with that approach (and I also took shots of them, of course, as they were big parts of the story), but they also led me to a group in the assisted living area who had been informed of my presence. Still, I kept to my condition of anonymity for the residents. Overall, it turned out extremely well and was a rewarding experience. The lesson: with limited options, one can still capture images that enhance a story, and protect the dignity of the subject. Communication is the key. The photos here are not any printed in the magazine, but still convey the approach.
