Mealtime can be challenging for people with dementia, as many experience behavioral issues that make eating and drinking difficult. The challenges can be equally tough for caregivers and family members as well as health care professionals, a new study finds.
A report published on Wednesday in BMC Geriatrics shed light on mealtime behavioral issues in nursing homes residents with dementia.
Researchers collected data online from a panel of 67 health care professionals, researchers and family members from across The Netherlands, including them in the brainstorming, sorting and rating of ideas on how to overcome the challenges or make it easier to deal with them.
Overall, the researchers collected 285 statements representing 85 ideas.The team plotted everything on a visual map that included 10 clusters describing the causes, management and interpretation of mealtime behavioral issues.
Some of the causes were related to how residents processed information, such as not recognizing food or cutlery. Other causes were related to the physical environment or staff not attuning to the residents’ preferences.
The respondents noted that some of the ways challenges are managed include trying to understand the underlying problem, or understanding it in a multidisciplinary context.
Interpreting the mealtime problems involved dealing with anxiety or agitation when trying to encourage a resident to eat, or worrying about choking.
The team recommended further analysis of all the aspects that go into managing mealtime challenges in people with dementia, and suggested that staff and family members need to stay mindful of ethical factors such as respecting the autonomy of residents when they refuse to eat, and knowing when not to offer food or drink.
“Mealtime behavioral problems are complex and dynamic, because various factors are interrelated, complicating the analysis of the problems and care demands,” the authors wrote.
“Every person has unique needs and preferences, and therefore the care provided should be in line with these needs to optimize eating performance,” the team added in the report.
