title: Mealtime help.
abstract: Patients in hospital are at risk of complications as a result of malnutrition but nurses often feel frustrated because they are unable to provide sufficient support during mealtimes. Dining companions are volunteers who have been trained in helping to feed patients and to enhance the social interaction and pleasure associated with eating. Wearing a badge so that they are easily identified, they help patients to eat safely giving assistance where required, and reporting any problems to nurses.
authors.affiliation: University of Portsmouth.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sander