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Resource Details

Eating Together: A Study of Food and Mealtimes in Families with Dementia

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Heather Keller, Ph.D., R.D., F.D.C. (University of Guelph)
Sherry Dupuis, Ph.D. (University of Waterloo)
Lori Schindel Martin, Ph.D. (McMaster University)

RESEARCH PROGRAM COLLABORATION(S):
Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP)
Agri-food for Healthy Aging (A-HA)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Conducted in partnership with several local Alzheimer Chapters in South Central Ontario, this longitudinal project is designed to: (1) examine the experience and meaning of food and mealtimes for persons living with dementia and their partners in care; and (2) understand how the experiences and meanings of food and mealtimes change over time for persons living with dementia and their partners in care.

The ultimate goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of the issues faced by families experiencing dementia specifically related to food and mealtimes in order to inform the development of educational tools and interviews to better assist families with these issues. (Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Alzheimer Society of Canada).

A number of Fact Sheets on eating and meal times in the dementia context have been created as part of this project. Online versions can be obtained by clicking the links below or by visiting the MAREP website:

Eating Environment Safety Eating Out Finger Foods
Forgetting to Eat Nutrition Worksheet Overeating Food Jags
Eating Non-Edibles Self-Feeding Swallowing  


Additional resources from the Eating Together study:

Addressing the Mealtime Challenges for Families Experiencing Dementia
This document presents challenges that Eating Together families have identified. Strategies that they have used to overcome these areas of concerns are provided as well.

For more information about any of MAREP's research projects/resources, contact:

Lisa Loiselle
Associate Director of Research
519.888.4567 ext. 35040
loiselle@healthy.uwaterloo.ca