Cover story


A new dining experience for dementia residents


General manager of care home catering specialist apetito Richard Woodward unveils a world-first for residents living with dementia - Finger Food Bites – and explains why the innovative dining experience is a game-changer for care homes


Catering for residents living with dementia can be highly complex. It takes time to manage mealtimes, allergies and specialist dietary requirements while giving support to those residents experiencing co- ordination difficulties, and in the ongoing design of a nutritious, balanced and appetising menu. Mealtimes can be a real challenge


for care homes in delivering a quality dining experience for those living with the condition. Residents can lose concentration, forget to eat and drink, and struggle to use cutlery or cups. The resulting potential loss of nutrition is also a factor for concern. One of the most common cognitive difficulties that is seen with dementia is apraxia – that is the inability of the body to respond to messages that are normally sent from the brain, such as the brain telling the hand to move a fork to the mouth.1


It is unclear exactly how many


residents live with apraxia and the cause is not always evident, but nevertheless it can be debilitating for the individual and


has historically led to an increased need for assisted feeding. However, even if a home is unsure of


the cause of the difficulty, the team can provide assistance in making mealtimes an easier and pleasant experience via the use of finger foods as a nutritional strategy. It is for this reason that apetito, which


partners with over 600 care homes across the nation and has over 60 years of experience in making mealtimes matter in health and social care, is this month launching Finger Food Bites – a new range that helps care homes provide a positive and inclusive dining experience for residents who are living with dementia. For the first time, those living with


dementia and co-ordination difficulties can feed themselves nutritionally balanced meals in one bite without having to struggle to pick up cutlery. Finger Foods Bites allow residents


the freedom to pick up and put down a complete hot meal with no mess and with minimal residue left on fingers. Furthermore, they can be enjoyed while


Volume 6 l Issue 10 l October 2021 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


DIGITAL


Finger Food Bites: a new dining experience for


dementia residents Resident engagement and meaningful activities Ten ways to reduce costs in a post-Covid world


sitting down, or if a resident is ‘on the move’. The range features 11 dishes of Finger


Food Bites with meals including chicken and mushroom bake, salmon supreme, and great variety provided by classic finger foods such as pork meatballs, fish goujons, sausage casserole and veggie bolognaise. Importantly, care homes can


choose from a selection which includes vegetarian meals as well as healthier choice, and gluten free.


Years in the making The range was many years in the making and apetito has embraced world-leading technology to ensure the quality of the meals met our high standards. While Finger Foods Bites may sound


straightforward to develop, the reality is it is far from the case. The components are cleverly designed and created so they melt in the mouth. Each ‘Bite’ encapsulates the flavours


Chicken & mushroom 6 Chicken curry


of a traditional meal and for the very first time, they allow residents living with dementia to enjoy feeding themselves, with no mess and with tasty meal options. It is a game-changer for care homes and their residents.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • October 2021


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