The daily food intake or meal plan is a guide for each resident to determine what food and how much should be consumed each day; and because you are a direct care staff person involved in helping residents with their daily activities, you will have a big impact on the residents’ health through their diets. Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet will help the residents and you from catching an illness from a virus or an infection. When our bodies are well fed, we are able to help fight off sickness. Residents of personal care homes may have serious illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or respiratory illness. Residents need regular and nutritious meals to balance medications and maintain proper body weight.