A Guide to Excellence in Dementia Education, Dementia ...

Practicing Simple, Specific Skills for Dining
Guiding to the Dining Room
• The Easy Approach
• Sparkly Face (Exaggerated facial expressions, gestures, and body language)
• Simple Statements
• Clear Gestures (Exaggerated facial expressions, gestures, and body language)
Cuing Friendship – to set the tone for a pleasant & social meal
(Include everyone – using resident-to-resident introductions)
Simplifying Menu Ordering – to minimize embarrassment & increase satisfaction
• Do get below eye level
• Familiar words & language
• Offer simple, concrete choices
• Fill-in the gaps to prevent embarrassment, when necessary
Presenting the Meal – to increase acceptance & pleasure
• Do get below eye level
• Establish eye contact first!
• Sparkly Face (Exaggerated facial expressions, gestures, and body language)
• Simple Statements
• Familiar words & language
• Remember to speak low & slow – no up-talking!
Simple Statements for Meal Time Cuing
Descriptive Statements
• Roast turkey and mashed potatoes!
• It’s a grilled cheese sandwich today.
Appetizing Statements
• Ken made this pasta especially for you!
• This looks scrumptious!
• Meat loaf just like mom’s.
• A nice big slice of homemade pie
Graciously Handling ‘I didn’t order this!’
• A profuse apology
• One gentle encourager
• Making it right
Discrete Cuing – to minimize embarrassment & increase consumption
• Tune in!
• Engage with skill – using a non-verbal cue
• A gracious statement for everyone
Ensuring a Gracious Dining Experience – be a social butterfly
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