title: The Lunch Bunch: an innovative strategy to combat depression and delirium through socialization in elderly sub-acute medicine patients.
abstract: Hospitalized sub-acute medicine patients face challenges to their functional and cognitive abilities as they await transfer to long-term care facilities or return home. The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Council, representing a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals working in the Sub-Acute Medicine Unit (SAMU), implemented a twice-weekly lunch program called the Lunch Bunch in order to combat depression and delirium in our elderly and cognitively impaired patients. The Lunch Bunch initiative includes chaplains, nurses and physiotherapists who have provided a framework through which essential socialization and exercise for this vulnerable population is facilitated. Providing a means for both mental and physical stimulation also allows patients to open up and discuss hidden feelings of loneliness and isolation, thereby beginning a journey of spiritual and emotional healing.
authors.affiliation: Margot Feyerer, BSc, MDiv, Interfaith Chaplain.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feyerer
authors.affiliation: Dawn Kruk, RN, Nursing Leader, Sub-Acute Medicine/Palliative Care Unit.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kruk
authors.affiliation: Nicole Bartlett, RPN, Staff Nurse, Sub-Acute Medicine/Palliative Care Unit.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: Kathy Rodney, RN, Staff Nurse, Sub-Acute Medicine/Palliative Care Unit.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rodney
authors.affiliation: Cyndi McKenzie, BSc, PT, Physiotherapist.
authors.forename: Cyndi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: Patrice Green, OTA/PTA, Physiotherapist Assistant.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Lisa Keller, Communications Clerk, Sub-Acute Medicine/Palliative Care Unit.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Pat Adcroft, Communications Clerk, Sub-Acute Medicine/Palliative Care Unit, London Health Sciences Centre - University Hospital.
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adcroft
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003693:Delirium / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology; D062409:Lunch; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010360:Patient Transfer; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012934:Social Isolation; D012951:Socialization