- Sense of occasion
- Active policy to make meals pleasant and enjoyable
- Home-like environment without institutional practices
- Individual food and social preferences met
- Individual eating and nutritional issues addressed
- Cultural differences in eating and mealtimes satisfied
- Verbal cues to encourage eating and keep independence
- Praise for appropriate mealtime responses
- Mealtime social interaction encouraged
- Opportunities for involvement in growing or buying food
- Opportunities to help in food preparation
- Opportunities to help with clearing and washing up
- Past eating experiences taken into account
- Changing needs accepted and met
- Personalised kitchen to encourage ‘ownership’ of the area
- Small decentralised dining areas, next to kitchens
- Well-lit dining areas
- Minimal noise and distraction
- Colour and colour contrasts in décor to encourage eating and interaction
- Flexible use of furniture for people’s changing needsVisible toilet close to dining area, and easy to get to
- Dining areas with view of outdoor areas
For those with eating difficulties
- Verbal cues to prompt eating
- One course served at a time to encourage focus
- Reminders to swallow
- Finger food that does not need utensils
Updated