title: Is the mealtime experience in nursing homes understood? A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to explore the significance of the mealtime experience among residents of nursing homes in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative phenomenological approach was followed. An initial purposeful sampling of Spanish residents in for-profit nursing homes in the southern area of Madrid was carried out. A theoretical sampling was also implemented in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of dependence. Inclusion criteria for nursing home residents were: age (60 years or older) and lack of any cognitive impairment. Data were collected using unstructured and semistructured interviews. Data collection was concluded once theoretical saturation was reached, and the data were analysed using the Giorgi proposal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 residents with a mean age of 83 years were included. Three main themes that describe the significance of meals in nursing homes emerged from the data: (i) timing of the meals - mealtimes serve as a point of reference for organizing activities in the nursing home and orient the residents during the day; (ii) table allocation - table allocation depends on the judgment of the personnel, the behavior of each resident and on the input from the residents that use a table; and (iii) the meals themselves - food is experienced as a privilege, as a sign of autonomy and normality, and as an indicator of personal identity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the social significance of meals for residents in nursing homes would provide deeper insight into resident expectations. This will in turn help to improve service and quality of life for residents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain. domingo.palacios@urjc.es
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palacios-Ceña
authors.forename: Marta Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Losa-Iglesias
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cachón-Pérez
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pérez
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Calero
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-las-Peñas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences; D005522:Food Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D009949:Orientation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors