<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

In my earlier question about GF meals in hospitals and nursing homes I
received several ideas and opinions. Several felt there should be more
discussion on this topic, and most asked me to summarize.  Some felt that
the fact that hospitals and homes all have a dietician would be sufficient;
but others found, as I have, that most dieticians don't know diddley (I
think that's the technical term) about any food intolerances. I know one of
my doctors last year authoritatively explained to me all about lactose
intolerance -- and he was sadly outdated and wrong. I have arranged the
most interesting parts of the best replies in order from positive to
negative. -vance
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skilled nursing homes and hospitals in the US are required to have a
licensed dietician.  Most of them are excellent.  Make an appointment and
discuss your needs with her/him  JG Maines MD

as for hospitals-the food is always bad but when I was there they just gave
me a GF menu and I ordered a bunch of side dishes and mixed things with
what I had brought from home like salad dressing, etc.

Six months ago when I gave birth and was in the hospital (in Provo,
Utah), I told the nurses and they were very accomodating to my needs.  They
even sent a dietician in to make sure of what I could and could not eat.  Even
so, of course, there wasn't much available that I could eat, so I always asked
them to bring me extra fruit and yogurt.

In Arizona, my current thinking [for a relative in a nursing home] is that
we might do all the cooking and take over GF meals, ready for the freezer,
in two-week batches.  Or perhaps
one-month batches.

Download the basic info and bring it with you.  Demand to talk to the head
dietican and nurse.  Go over the diet with them, explaining what you cannot
tolerate.  I always end my lttie talk by telling them that if I have a
gluten poisoning (my term) I will make sure that I have most of the attack
in THEIR office, esp the projectile diarrhea, and vomitting.

When I was in hospital a couple years ago they didn't have the faintest idea
what Celiacs could and could not have.........that was info from the
dietician.  I also have many food allergies including all diary, eggs, etc.
so I told them what I could have.  I had potatoes, veggies with no
seasonings and baked chicken.  That is all!  The cook stopped at the store
on the way to the hospital in the morning so I could have Cream of Rice.  I
thought that was very nice of him!!  Otherwise they did not have a thing I
could have had for breakfast.

I have no confidence in hospital food. If you go there, bring your own,
have your friends, spouse, support group members bring meals.  Even if they
order gluten-free, the dietitians don't actually prepare, assemble or serve
the food, and those who do haven't a clue.

You had the right idea about hospitals. It's best to have your own
food, just in case. I took GF instant broth along, for right after my
surgery, also fruit, rice cakes, etc. I did eventually find that their
food service offered a small range of special diets, and requested a
wheat-free, allergic diet. This finally got me plain baked meats and
fish and steamed rice and veggies, very bland--no gravies, no spices
(not even salt & pepper!) but it was safe!
        But at first they still tried to give me English muffins, etc.! (The
serving staff thought no wheat meant "no whole wheat." And they had
no clue what Gluten Free Diet on my chart meant.) Get hold of the
head dietician if you can.

I have been an RN for forty years and was just diagnosed last year. the
dietitians that I work with are unfamiliar in planning or accommodating a
Gluten Free diet. I also volunteer in a long term care facility and have
realized there that it would be very difficult to maintain a GF diet.

We had a similar experience with a hospital in Columbia, SC-USA when my sister
(celiac) went there.  It is frightening because they almost killed her in the
hospital because they were so *!&# and many other bad things I could say about
them.  Why do hospital dietitians know so LITTLE about celiac!!