Enhancing the dining experience in long-term care: Dining with Dignity program.
Nursing home residents nationwide are at nutritional risk as the result of physical, social and environmental factors. The Dining with Dignity program integrates long-term care residents, staff, community volunteers and occupational therapy students to improve residents' nutritional intake. Volunteers are trained to provide one-on-one assistance during meals and to promote a positive dining experience as organized by the theory of Social Support. Resident satisfaction with meals and improved nutritional status are important outcomes as is volunteer commitment to the program.
Marken
Dory
D
Department of Occupational Therapy, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475, USA. dory.marken@eku.edu
D000368:Aged; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D005791:Patient Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education