Optimizing Eating Performance for Older Adults With Dementia Living in Long‐term Care: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This review provided preliminary support for using training and mealtime assistance to optimize eating performance for older adults with dementia in LTC. Future effectiveness studies may focus on training nursing caregivers as interventionists, lengthening intervention duration, and including residents with varying levels of cognitive impairment in diverse cultures. The effectiveness of training combined with mealtime assistance may also be tested to achieve better resident outcomes in eating performance.

The association of eating performance and environmental stimulation among older adults with dementia in nursing homes: A secondary analysis

“…From this perspective, interventions to improve mealtime performance should include training nursing assistants and using environmental modifications or mealtime assistance. Nursing staff training programs demonstrate evidence in improving feeding difficulty(37, 38), but most programs focus on the use of feeding skills instead of engagement, interaction and other environmental factors to promote eating performance(39, 40). The strength of evidence for using environmental modifications and mealtime assistance is limited by the strength of study designs(38).…”

“…Nursing staff training programs demonstrate evidence in improving feeding difficulty(37, 38), but most programs focus on the use of feeding skills instead of engagement, interaction and other environmental factors to promote eating performance(39, 40). The strength of evidence for using environmental modifications and mealtime assistance is limited by the strength of study designs(38). However, improving dining environment in nursing homes significantly improves meal intake and nutritional status for older adults with dementia(41), and demonstrates the importance of environmental factors at mealtimes.…”

“…However, improving dining environment in nursing homes significantly improves meal intake and nutritional status for older adults with dementia(41), and demonstrates the importance of environmental factors at mealtimes. More research is needed to identify and test innovative ways to improve the mealtime environment to maintain optimal eating performance for residents with dementia in nursing home settings(20, 37, 38). …”

A critical systematic review and synopsis of the alignment of scientific developments in surveillance technology in nursing care facilities

“…However, 43% found the quality of the studies weak ( Table 2). Thus, the total quality of the studies reviewed is not significantly different from the findings of other reviews in the nursing journals [42][43][44]. This, for example, depends on the selection and description of the sample.…”

Best intentions or best practice? A case study of the nutritional needs and outcomes of a person with dementia living in a residential aged care home

“…However, the number of staff present and their attentiveness were not able to ensure adequate food intake, indicating that additional factors such as effectiveness of prompts and greater food choice warrant attention. Most staff used prompts in the form of ineffective questions, although some staff did use a recommended approach of direct statements (Coyne & Hoskins, 1997;Liu, Galik, Boltz, Nahm, & Resnick, 2015;Simmons, Alessi, & Schnelle, 2001), albeit not consistently. Effective verbal prompts include direct statements that are simple, clear, and brief single-step instructions, delivered consistently in a calm and reassuring manner (Chang, Brownhill, Bidewell, Johnson, & Ratnayake, 2015;Morris & Volicer, 2001;Van Ort & Phillips, 1995).…”