Better mealtimes for people living with dementia

Across this last six month our Thomas Knight care home has been engaging with the University of Northumbria and the south Tyneside Local Authority on important research as to how to improve the mealtime experiences of people living with a dementia.

What is this research project about?

• It is about supporting care home staff to give the best possible care for people with dementia at mealtimes. Mealtimes are important for good health and quality of life. Some people with dementia have problems with eating and drinking and need support at mealtimes.
• The research project has led to the development of a training course about good practice in mealtime care.
• The aim is to make sure the training course, once delivered, leads to lasting improvements, and is meaningful for staff and residents from diverse cultural backgrounds.

At Thomas Knight seven staff participants were identified from various departments including the registered manager and the training was delivered in person by the teams undertaking the research program.

The group Director of care, quality and operations and the group nominated individual had been involved in the creation of the training course and is continuing his participation through until the program closes.

Two of the original seven employees from Thomas Knight will now attend a large multi home workshop and next steps development event at the Durham Centre, Belmont Industrial Estate. In the workshops we will look at recent findings on what can help improvements in mealtime care to take hold in everyday practice, and what can get in the way. We will also look at expert guidance on how to make sure mealtime care is meaningful for staff and residents from diverse cultural backgrounds. We will then work together on developing a strategy for sustained improvement.

Thomas Knight team are benefitting from being part of the first care home cohort to receive the training and were one of only three services invited – Mealtimes are one of the four pillars that form the soon to be launched Distinguished Care Group dementia strategy.