BMJ  2006;332:1334 (3 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1334-c

Letter

Benefits of family mealtimes for nursing home residents

Study is step in the right direction

EDITOR—Nijs et al show the beneficial effects of family style mealtimes on the health of nursing home residents.¹ Many elderly people in nursing homes, despite excellent clinical care, experience poor nutritional status associated with poor dentition, depression, and disease related malnutrition. Family members become distressed watching their elderly relatives decline in such a way.

Credit: SIPA PRESS/REX

 

The solution has always been to provide high protein and energy dietary supplements from pharmaceutical companies which, although carefully formulated, are of debatable palatability and uptake. Importantly, they are prescribed by doctors at enormous cost to the health service, and evidence of their effectiveness is limited.² Food based interventions are not ineffective: appropriate studies simply have not been done. This research is a step in the right direction. Jamie Oliver, could you make nursing homes your next project?

Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia john.oldroyd{at}deakin.edu.au

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Competing interests: None declared.

References

1. Nijs KAND, de Graaf C, Kok FJ, van Staveren WA. Effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 6;332: 1180-4. (20 May.)
2. Milne AC, Avenell A, Potter J. Meta-analysis: protein and energy supplementation in older people. Ann Intern Med 2006;144: 37-48.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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Relevant Article

Effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial

Kristel A N D Nijs, Cees de Graaf, Frans J Kok, and Wija A van Staveren
BMJ 2006 332: 1180-1184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]