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Food and Drink
| Mary (to Enid): | I’d love a cup of tea, would you? |
| Enid: | Oh yes! |
| Mary (to passing staff member): | Could we have a cup of tea please, and what cake do you have on today? |
| Staff member (looking at her watch): | Oh, you’ve just had a cup of tea, we’ll be doing tea again in an hour |
| Staff member (approaching two visitors nearby): | Would you like a cup of tea? |
| Mary (to Enid): | An hour? Do you want to wait an hour for a cuppa? This place has gone downhill since we last came! I think I’ll go. I’ve got the car. Are you coming Enid? Come on, let’s go |
| Mary and Enid exit the room |
You may have read the first few lines of this exchange and assumed it took place in a café, however it is actually based on an interaction that was observed in a care home. It is humorous, yes, but also tragic (or tragical, to quote Anne of Green Gables!). How many missed opportunities in that one short exchange!
Opportunities for:
Social connection: Had the staff member embraced the reality of her residents, she would have had a lovely opportunity for meaningful connection, a chance to affirm these two ladies in their apparently happy belief that they were out for a cup of tea and some cake. Sharing food with others helps to keep eating and drinking enjoyable as well as part of a daily routine. Meal and snack times are not only times to nourish our bodies but can also be an opportunity to nourish our souls, maintain social connections, talk together and share memories.
Dignity and choice: Having asked for a cup of tea (politely too!), Mary and Enid would have been completely justified in wondering why their request was not being respected? Why should they wait, especially when the two ladies nearby (actually visiting professionals) were being offered tea! People living with dementia lose so much control over their lives. They should be given every opportunity to reclaim this control, even if only over when they have a drink and some cake.
Increased wellbeing and reduced distress: The outcome of this interaction could have been very different. It could have resulted in signs of distress, verbal protest or even aggression, attempts to abscond (this café is not up to much!) and reduced trust in the staff that are supporting these ladies with their daily living. It is difficult to eliminate the distress that dementia and its consequences can cause, but why not avoid unnecessary upset and facilitate the calm that a cuppa can bring.
Hydration: People living with dementia are often at risk of a poor fluid intake leading to dehydration. Dehydration can contribute to other health problems such as dizziness, increased confusion, urinary tract infections and an increased risk of falls. For this reason, we should be using every opportunity to encourage people living with dementia to drink and welcoming their requests to do so!
Nutrition: People living with dementia may experience a reduced appetite and eat less. This becomes more common as dementia progresses. A reduced dietary intake can lead to weight loss, higher risk of illness, infection and skin breakdown. Let’s use every opportunity to make food enjoyable, nutritious and warming in all senses of the word. For most of us, meals are not only sources of energy and health, but are experiences for all of our senses and tightly bound to fun times, celebrations and remembrance.
Remember Mary and Enid. We certainly will.
Bon appetit!
