Exploring nursing home staff experiences in caring for residents living with dementia following a mealtime training program: A qualitative descriptive study

The high prevalence of eating difficulties among nursing home residents living with dementia has a significant impact on their health and well-being. While various interventions have been evaluated to reduce eating difficulties and enhance nutritional intake, quantitative evaluation alone may not capture the full impact of the intervention given the trajectory of dementia. Following the implementation of a mealtime intervention, combining Spaced Retrieval with Montessori-based activities, 13 staff members who provided regular direct mealtime support to participating residents living with dementia were interviewed. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis guided the analysis and interpretation of the interviews. Three overarching themes represented the participants’ views: (1) Mealtime challenges, reflecting physical, cognitive, and behavioural impairments that hindered independent eating; (2) Individualised mealtime support, highlighting the critical role of person-centred strategies tailored to individual unique needs and abilities; and (3) Enhanced outcomes, describing improvements in eating independence, engagement, social interaction, mood, and self-esteem. Staff insights highlighted the importance of individualised, person-centred mealtime support grounded in a reablement approach. The specific challenges experienced by residents living with dementia should be proactively addressed when planning and implementing interventions. This intervention not only promoted eating independence but also enhanced psychosocial well-being, engagement, and mood. This emphasises the broad potential for such interventions to be integrated into daily clinical practice to improve both the quality of care and residents’ well-being and quality of life.