As people age, it is common to require more assistance during mealtimes. Losing the ability to eat and drink independently can have a huge impact on overall nutritional intake and quality of life. There are a number of ways we can assist those in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) with eating and drinking to maintain a sense of dignity and promote adequate nutritional intake. There are a variety of reasons that residents may need assistance with their meals, such as dementia or impaired cognition, weakness in hands (e.g. arthritis), poor vision, poor appetite, swallowing difficulties, or general weakness and fatigue. Whilst it is important to encourage residents to eat independently where possible, some residents will require assistance with their meals. The level of assistance that residents will need can vary, and may range from:
The amount of assistance a resident needs can change from day to day, even meal to meal. Careful observation of residents at mealtimes can give you an indication as to who might need some extra assistance, for example those who do not complete their meal or who have trouble using their utensils. If you are providing full feeding assistance, it is important to keep the following points in mind to promote good oral intake and ensure that the resident is comfortable during mealtimes:
Although mealtimes can be busy, taking the time to help residents who require assistance can lead to improved oral intake and resident enjoyment. For more information regarding mealtime assistance or to arrange staff education sessions, please speak with your Dietitian from the Eat Well Nutrition team. |