MÅLTIDSMILJÖNS BETYDELSE FÖR PERSONER MED DEMENSSJUKDOM : En litteraturöversikt

Background: The meal environment has an important significance for people with dementia. The background describes, among other things, how the disease dementia causes difficulties with intake of food and drink, how the meal situation is an important part of everyday life, the importance of the meal environment and the nurse's nursing responsibility. It then follows a presentation of the steering document and guidelines, person-centered care for people with dementia disease and theoretical and medical sciences as well as nursing responsibilities. Problem: Malnutrition is a problem in people with dementia, due to their reduced cognitive ability and a non-optimal meal environment. A poor meal environment can cause nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, dehydration, fatigue, depression, pressure ulcers and infections in people with dementia. Aim: The purpose is to elucidate the importance of the meal environment for people with dementia. Method: Literature review with thirteen articles; six articles with qualitative- and six articles with quantitative approach and one article with mixed method have been analysed. Result: Two main themes were identified that were important for the meal environment for people with dementia. These were sensory impressions and person-centered meal environment. Conclusions: To improve food and beverage intake and to prevent malnutrition in people with dementia, some important factors were highlighted in the results section. The factors are: the environment in the dining room, Person-centered care and interaction between the nurse and people with dementia are important parts of the meals. In addition, the problems malnutrition and weight loss cause when food and drink intake decrease, as well as the nurse's responsibility in nursing measures, were addressed.Keyword: Dementia, interaction, malnutrition, meal environment