Dementia and Food Exchange in Nursing Home Dining Areas

Abstract

Some investigators have reported that residents of nursing homes engage in food exchange during meal times, and that demented residents may be more likely to engage in such behaviors, usually taking food as part of more general disinhibited behavior. We investigated this claim directly using a behavioral observation protocol. Over two 12-day periods, a total of 111 residents in two nursing home dining rooms was observed to determine the prevalence of food exchange. Food exchange behaviors were noted among demented and nondemented residents. Overall, the prevalence of such behaviors was low; less than 10% of residents were observed taking or giving food. Demented residents were somewhat more likely to take food than nondemented residents; however, these differences did not achieve statistical significance. Dining room staff intercepted food exchanges in only about one quarter of such cases.