Mealtime experience of residential care home residents and staff in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background To report the experience of meal preparation and management among residents and staff in a residential care home in Hong Kong.

Methods Face-to-face interviews were conducted with six residents and eight staff members at a residential care home.

Results The divergent views of residents and staff highlighted the unsatisfactory mealtime experience. Residents had a strong wish to be helped to maintain good health and to receive care, as well as to gain control and autonomy of their food. Nonetheless, they were accustomed to the inflexible meal policies and pre-set rules for mealtime arrangements. Limited resources, elders’ limitation, and administrative influence were constraints that compromised the mealtime experience.

Conclusions Older people put greater emphasis on mealtime experience. Our findings highlight the implications for those in charge to tackle the unfavourable mealtime experience.