HOW NURSING HOME STAFF MANAGE CHALLENGING FEEDING BEHAVIORS IN RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract This session will describe the adaptive challenges nursing home (NH) staff experience when residents with advanced dementia exhibit feeding behaviors (e.g., turning head away) during meals. As part of a larger mixed methods study to re-design a dementia feeding skills training program, ten focus groups were conducted with NH staff (N = 52) in 8 NHs. Transcripts were analyzed using four a priori codes: dementia skills training, feeding behaviors, interventions, and communication. NH staff report no formal dementia feeding skills training, but did report training for dealing with aggressive behavior during other daily care activities (e.g., bathing). Transferring this training to feeding behaviors, NH staff reported their most frequent intervention is to walk away. Mealtime challenges included feeding behaviors, including behaviors perceived as aggressive. Implications of this emerging work include reframing feeding behaviors as communication, and training staff to respond appropriately to these behaviors to promote meal intake.

Duke Scholars

Author Cathleen Sellner Colon-Emeric Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care