MEALTIME BEHAVIORS IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA ARE ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENT-INITIATED FOOD INTAKE
2024

Mealtime Behaviors in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Sample size: 12 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Suh Heather, Lee Kyuri, Liu Wen

Primary Institution: University of Iowa

Hypothesis

There is an association between resident mealtime behaviors and resident-initiated food intake attempts.

Conclusion

Addressing chewing and swallowing difficulties can improve food intake attempts and enhance mealtime engagement for residents with dementia.

Supporting Evidence

  • 197 videotaped observations of full-meal resident-staff interactions were coded.
  • Resident behaviors were categorized into positive/neutral, chewing/swallowing difficulties, functional impairment, and resistive behaviors.
  • The majority of resident behaviors occurred during lunch and dinner.

Takeaway

This study looked at how nursing home residents with dementia eat and how they can be helped to eat better by focusing on their chewing and swallowing issues.

Methodology

Videotaped observations of resident-staff interactions during mealtimes were coded and analyzed.

Participant Demographics

Average age 71.9 years; 91.7% male; 91.7% white; 41.7% married.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.014

Statistical Significance

p=0.014

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.2277

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