Why is it important to assist and support residents at meal times?

The provision of high-quality catering services is a vital area of care home management and one where people who use services and their relatives have strong views. Mealtimes are important and pleasurable occasions for many people who use services and providing good quality and nutritious meals in a homely and pleasant environment should be a key aim.

Contact us to discuss your requirements.

  1. Care Quality Commission. The Adult Social Care Market and the Quality of Services. 2010.

  2. Age UK. Later Life in the United Kingdom 2015. Available from: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/Later_Life_UK_factsheet.pdf?dtrk=true.

  3. Care Quality Commission. Time to listen in care homes 2012 [cited 2015 November 11th]. Available from: https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/time_to_listen_-_care_homes_main_report_tag.pdf.

  4. British Geriatrics Society. Quest for Quality. British Geriatrics Society, 2011. Available from: http://www.bgs.org.uk/campaigns/carehomes/quest_quality_care_homes.pdf.

  5. Macleod J, Smith GD. Psychosocial factors and public health: a suitable case for treatment? J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003;57(8):565–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Patrick DL, Kinne S, Engelberg RA, Pearlman RA. Functional status and perceived quality of life in adults with and without chronic conditions. J Clin Epidemiol. 2000;53(8):779–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. McDougall FA, Matthews FE, Kvaal K, Dewey ME, Brayne C. Prevalence and symptomatology of depression in older people living in institutions in England and Wales. Age Ageing. 2007;36(5):562–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Donini LM, Savina C, Cannella C. Eating habits and appetite control in the elderly: the anorexia of aging. Int Psychogeriatr. 2003;15(01):73–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Volicer L, Frijters DH, van der Steen JT. Apathy and weight loss in nursing home residents: longitudinal study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(6):417–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Savishinsky J. Bread and butter” issues: Food, conflict, and control in a nursing home. Gray Areas: Ethnographic Encounters with Nursing Home Culture. New Mexico: School of American Research Press; 2003:103–20.

  11. Watkins R, Goodwin VA, Abbott RA, Backhouse A, Moore D, Tarrant M. Attitudes, perceptions and experiences of mealtimes among residents and staff in care homes for older adults: A systematic review of the qualitative literature. Geriatr Nurs. 2017.

  12. Abbott R, Whear R, Thompson-Coon J, Ukoumunne OC, Bethel A, Rogers M, Hemsley A, Stein K. Effectiveness of mealtime interventions on nutritional outcomes for the elderly living in residential care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev. 2013;12:15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Whear R, Abbott R, Thompson-Coon J, Bethel A, Rogers M, Hemsley A, Stahl-Timmins W, Stein K. Effectiveness of Mealtime Interventions on Behavior Symptoms of People With Dementia Living in Care Homes: A Systematic Review. JAMDA. 2014;15:9.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, Nazareth I, Petticrew M. Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance. BMJ. 2008;337:a1655.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Grodner M, Anderson S, De Young S. Foundations and clinical applications of nutrition: A nursing approach. Second ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Philpin S, Merrell J, Warring J, Hobby D, Gregory V. Memories, identity and homeliness: The social construction of mealtimes in residential care homes in South Wales. Ageing Soc. 2014;34(5):753–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Evans B, Crogan N, Shultz J. The meaning of mealtimes: Connection to the social world on the nursing home. J Gerontol Nurs. 2005;31(2):11–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Vucea V, Keller HH, Ducak K. Interventions for improving mealtime experiences in long-term care. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr. 2014;33(4):249–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bradshaw SA, Playford ED, Riazi A. Living well in care homes: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Age Ageing. 2012;41(4):429–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Reimer HD, Keller HH. Mealtimes in Nursing Homes: Striving for Person-Centred Care. J Nutr Elder. 2009;28(4):22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Commission CQ. The State of Health Care and Adult Social Care in England: Key themes and quality of services in 2009. The Stationery Office. 2010.

  22. Pearson A, FitzGerald M, Nay R. Mealtimes in nursing homes: the role of nursing staff. J Gerontol Nurs. 2003;29(6):40–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sidenvall B. Meal procedures in institutions for elderly people: a theoretical interpretation. J Adv Nurs. 1999;30(2):319–28.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Mays N, Pope C. Rigour in qualitative research. London: British Medical Journal Publishing; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Barbour RS. Checklists for improving rigour in qualitative research: a case of the tail wagging the dog? Br Med J. 2001;322(7294):1115–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Guest G, Bunce A, Johnson L. How Many Interviews Are Enough? An Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability. Field Methods. 2006;18(1):59–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pope C, Mays N. Reaching the parts other methods cannot reach: an introduction to qualitative methods in health and health services research. Br Med J. 1995;311(6996):42–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Patton MQ. QualitW and research methods. Second ed. Newbury Park: Sage; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Glaser BG, Strauss AL. The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine; 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Geertz C. Thick description: Toward an Interpretative Theory of Culture. New York: Basic Books; 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Attride-Stirling J. Thematic networks: an anaytic tool for qualitative research. Qual Res. 2001;1(3):385–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Koch T, Harrington A. Reconceptualizing rigour: the case for reflexivity. J Adv Nurs. 1998;28(4):882–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Mays N, Pope C. Assessing quality in qualitative research. Br Med J. 2000;320(7226):50–2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Mitchie S, Abraham C. Interventions to change health behaviours: evidence-based or evidence-inspired? Psychol Health. 2004;19(1):29–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Kao HFS, Travis SS, Acton GJ. Relocation to a long-term care facility: Working with patients and families before, during, and after. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2004;42(3):10–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hodgson N, Freedman VA, Granger DA, Erno A. Biobehavioral correlates of relocation in the frail elderly: salivary cortisol, affect, and cognitive function. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52(11):1856–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Choi NG, Ransom S, Wyllie RJ. Depression in older nursing home residents: The influence of nursing home environmental stressors, coping, and acceptance of group and individual therapy. Aging Mental Health. 2008;12(5):536–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Hauge S, Heggen K. The nursing home as a home: a field study of residents’ daily life in the common living rooms. J Clin Nurs. 2007;17(4):460–7.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Haslam C, Jetten J, Haslam SA, Knight C. The importance of remembering and deciding together: Enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care. London & New York: Psychology Press; 2012. p. 297–315.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Knight C, Haslam SA, Haslam C. In home or at home? How collective decision making in a new care facility enhances social interaction and wellbeing amongst older adults. Ageing Soc. 2010;30(08):1393–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Palacios-Cena D, Losa-Iglesias ME, Cachon-Perez JM, Gomez-Perez D, Gomez-Calero C, Fernandez-de-las-Penas C. Is the mealtime experience in nursing homes understood? A qualitative study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2012;13(2):482–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Dunn H, Moore T. ‘You can’t be forcing food down ‘em’: Nursing home carers’ perceptions of residents’ dining needs. J Health Psychol. 2014; doi:10.1177/1359105314532971.

  44. Harnett T, Jönson H. Shaping nursing home mealtimes. Ageing Soc. 2015:1–22.

  45. Bennett MK, Ward EC, Scarinci NA. Mealtime management in Australian residential aged care: Comparison of documented, reported and observed care. Int J Speech Lang Pathol. 2015;17(5):451–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Amella EJ. Feeding and hydration issues for older adults with dementia. Nurs Clin N Am. 2004;39:607–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Jetten J, Haslam C, Alexander SH. The social cure: Identity, health and well-being. Psychology Press. 2012.

  48. Crogan NL, Evans B, Severtsen B, Shultz JA. Improving nursing home food service: uncovering the meaning of food through residents’ stories. J Gerontol Nurs. 2004;30(2):29–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Keller H, Carrier N, Duizer L, Lengyel C, Slaughter S, Steele C. Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3): grounding mealtime interventions with a conceptual model. JAMDA. 2014;15(3):10.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Njis K, de Graaf C, Kok FJ, Van Staveren WA. Effect of family-style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial. Br Med J. 2006;332:1180–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Njis K, de Graaf C, Siebelink E, Blauw YH, Vanneste V, Kok FJ, Van Staveren WA. Effect of family-style meals on energy intake and risk of malnutrition in Dutch nursing home residents: a randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol. 2006;61:935–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 


Page 2

Experiential components of the mealtime