Interventions to address mealtime support needs in dementia: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Dementia Care Research
• Nutritional Support

Background:

• Dementia impairs cognitive and physical abilities, affecting eating and leading to malnutrition.
• Mealtime support is crucial for individuals with dementia in residential care settings.
• Existing research lacks a comprehensive overview of mealtime interventions and their multifaceted impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and summarize research on mealtime interventions for people with dementia.
• To evaluate the impact of these interventions on residents, care staff, and the care environment.
• To inform the development of improved mealtime support strategies.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review methodology following The Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.
• Searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, SciELO) from November 2022 to February 2023.
• Included 33 studies from 275 retrieved articles, analyzing interventions in four categories: environmental, assistance, staff training, and multicomponent.

Main Results:

• Interventions effectively increased oral intake and reduced behavioral issues like agitation and aggression in people with dementia.
• Impacts on care staff included enhanced knowledge and improved attitudes toward mealtime support.
• Limited reporting exists on the effects of interventions on the care context/environment.

Conclusions:

• Mealtime interventions show promise for improving nutritional intake and behavior in dementia care.
• Further research should explore impacts on care environments and administrative perspectives.
• Findings can guide the creation of tailored programs to enhance the mealtime experience for individuals with dementia.