Hamberley’s Dementia Chief Advocates For Dining Empowerment

Dementia expert David Moore has encouraged care home providers to actively involve residents living with dementia in food preparation and the dining experience to help preserve skills for longer.

David, who is the Head of Dementia at Hamberley Care Homes, addressed delegates at a National Association of Care Catering conference in Birmingham, where he spoke of the importance of food and dining in residents’ lives.

During the keynote address, which took place at Cadbury’s headquarters within the Bournville factory site, David argued that while care homes should provide a restaurant-style experience, it shouldn’t be the dominant model of catering for homes.

Instead, he advocated involving residents in preparing meals, setting the table, and recreating a homely dining experience in which they are as involved as possible.

David said: “It was terrific to address the delegates and explain why I so passionately believe in the importance of involving residents living with dementia in making and serving their own food.

“At Hamberley Care Homes, our Homemaker model of care really helps to contribute to a more authentic and cosy dining experience.

“Homemakers will support residents in tasks like peeling vegetables, chopping ingredients or simply laying the table.

“There’s a fine balance where the Homemaker can be there to assess and mitigate risks, but not take over, so that the resident is empowered to do as much as they can.

During the session, David also spoke about how assumptions and prejudices about a dementia diagnosis can lead to people losing skills earlier than necessary.

David said: “It’s so easy for a care professional just to take over and do something themselves rather than be there to support and be with the resident as they do what they can.

“But that will lead to the person becoming passive and detached, not keeping up the skills they still have for as long as possible.

“Our Homemakers will always look at what a resident can do and enjoys doing, and they’ll often eat together as dining with a companion can act as a visual prompt for the person living with dementia to recall how to use cutlery and feed themselves.”

The conference, which took place on Thursday 12th March, brought together care professionals from across the UK.

David added: “There were some great conversations and insights during the conference.

“During my session, I was asking people to think about their food memories, and it’s amazing that so many of them involve simple, homely dishes or are connected to grandparents or other loved ones preparing food.

“It goes to show how important food memories are to us all, and how they tie into our relationships and bring back happy recollections

“I’d love to see more care providers taking this into account and encouraging people living with dementia to participate in mealtimes as much as they can.”