Toni Fisk discusses dementia and how it affects the dining experience. Characteristics of dementia are demonstrated and the direct correlation of how it relates to the socialization and the action of eating will be shared. Our overall mission is to provide socialization, increased food consumption, improved hydration, and dignified dining. We must always focus on persons with dementia completing daily activities and tasks for themselves, for as long as they can. We will segue into the service standards and environmental aspects of the physical dining space. Best practice recommendations for the standard dining model and what considerations/actions should be undertaken to improve the dining experience for persons living with dementia. This is a SPECIAL SESSION! Audience members will be given the opportunity to volunteer to participate in and bear witness to what it “feels” like to engage in a simulated dining experience. Volunteers will be garbed in unique props to simulate vision, hearing, hand coordination and physical discomfort challenges as they go through the motions of managing a meal. We will have a question-and-answer segment to reveal what their experience was!
Nurse Learner Outcome: At the conclusion of this education session, participants will self report a knowledge gain of how the the reduced visual capabilities of a person with dementia affects the general quality of life and specifically, the ability to consume food and beverage in a social setting.
Learner Objectives:
- Identify Dementia 101 basics for all resident-facing staff: elevating your performance when assisting and working with Residents living with brain change.
- Differentiating and elevating your resident engagement by improving your current social dining model.
- Easy to implement approaches for increased food consumption, improved hydration, and dining with dignity techniques.
- You are an active learner… you walk in the shoes of someone with dementia through the simulated dining experience.