Centre for Policy on Ageing



Effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance and body weight of nursing home residents — cluster randomised controlled trial
Author(s)	Kristel A N D Nijs, Cees de Graaf, Frans J Kok
Journal title	British Medical Journal, vol 332, no 7551, 20 May 2006
Pages	pp 1180-1183
Source	http://www.bmj.com
Keywords	Residents [care homes] ; Quality of life ; Meals services ; Nursing homes ; Cluster analysis ; Netherlands.
Annotation	Eating in the company of others significantly increases food intake, while for nursing home residents with dementia mood is improved by family-style mealtimes. In this Dutch study of 178 residents (mean age 77) in 5 nursing homes, two wards in each home were randomised to intervention (95 participants) or control (83). During 6 months, the intervention group took their meals family style; the control group received the usual individual pre-plated service. The difference to change between the two groups was significant for overall quality of life, fine motor function and body weight. Improving the ambience of mealtimes can thus prevent decline in physical performance and body weight, as well as improve overall quality of life for nursing home residents. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-060602204 A
Classmark	KX: F:59: NR: LHB: 3YB: 76H *
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.