By Tony Dias, Executive Director, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami &
Sandy Goldberg, RN, Senior Care Manager, Ft. Lauderdale

Mrs. Katz came to SeniorBridge in October 2008. Her daughter, who lives out of town, contacted us to request help for her mother during a hospital stay.

Mrs. Katz spent 5 days in the hospital after being admitted to the Emergency Room with a fever of 105 degrees. In the ER, doctors used a cooling blanket and antibiotics to reduce Mrs. Katz’s fever before transferring her to the ICU. A second daughter, who also lives out of town, came to stay with her mother during this time.

In the hospital, Mrs. Katz was dehydrated and had no appetite. Despite the efforts of her daughter and a SeniorBridge caregiver, Mrs. Katz refused to eat or drink any fluids.

Sandy Goldberg, the Care Manager, visited Mrs. Katz in the hospital to conduct an assessment and develop a customized plan of care including nutrition support. During the visit, Sandy asked Mrs. Katz about the types of food she enjoyed in the past. Mrs. Katz quickly replied, “My daughter makes a delicious chicken soup,” adding that she particularly liked chicken soup with matzo balls.

Excited at the revelation, Sandy returned home after the visit to make chicken soup and matzo balls. The following day, she returned to the hospital with the client’s favorite comfort food chicken soup with matzo balls. Not surprisingly, Mrs. Katz loved the specially prepared soup. 

Soon Mrs. Katz’s vital signs improved. She regained her appetite and began eating a variety of foods. Given her progress, Mrs. Katz was discharged home with 24-hour caregivers.  Shortly after she arrived home, Sandy visited to check on her and give the caregiver a quick cooking lesson on how to make chicken soup and matzo balls. Now the caregiver makes the special soup regularly and Mrs. Katz continues to improve.

Clearly, the matzo balls were the perfect prescription!