The Experiences of Elderly People Living at Home Related to Their Receiving Meals Distributed by a Municipality in Sweden

Pajalić, Zada; Persson, Lena; Westergren, Albert; Berggren, Vanja; Skovdahl, Kirsti

doi:10.5539/jfr.v1n1p68

Cited by 13 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The home-delivered meal has been described as a symbol of dependency even for those without specific eating difficulties (Pajalic, Persson, Westergren, Berggren, & Skovdahl, 2012). Various life events, for example the passing away of one´s partner, may lead to elderly people moving from independence to dependence (Edfors & Westergren, 2012).…”

Section: Independence As a Primary Goalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating Difficulties, Nutrition, Meal Preferences and Experiences Among Elderly A Literature Overview From a Scandinavian Context

Nyberg¹,

Olsson²,

Pajalić

et al. 2014

JFR

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The risk of malnutrition increases with ageing, resulting in poorer health and higher risk of disease. Eating difficulties are important risk factors for malnutrition. Moreover, independence in relation to food and meals is highly rated by the elderly and has been associated with health and well-being. The purpose of this literature overview was to provide insights into nutritional status, food choice and preferences as well as the meal situations of home-living elderly (65+) people with motoric eating difficulties focusing on Scandinavia. The overall aim is to support independence and to prevent malnutrition. Nutritional status in the elderly was found to be negatively influenced by motoric eating difficulties including problems with manipulating food on the plate and transporting food to the mouth. Motoric eating difficulties may result in practical simplifications such as use of pre-prepared meals, less advanced cooking, and omission of certain meal constituents in order to avoid e.g. mismanagement and spillage. Eating difficulties are often accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame. Choosing smaller portions, reducing the number of eating episodes and not cooking independently have been associated with a higher risk of malnutrition. The nutritional effects of eating difficulties may be exacerbated by diminished chemosensory functions. Furthermore, both past and present food preferences should be considered in order to meet nutritional needs and meal satisfaction. Development of refined and socially accepted eating aids, in combination with tasty and nutritious products, is important in order to promote healthy and independent living among home-living elderly with motoric eating difficulties.

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Section: Independence As a Primary Goalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating Difficulties, Nutrition, Meal Preferences and Experiences Among Elderly A Literature Overview From a Scandinavian Context

Nyberg¹,

Olsson²,

Pajalić

et al. 2014

JFR

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“…Food was produced at a municipality owned kitchen. The diet manager had the overall responsibility for the food production and the personnel employed at the kitchens (Pajalic, Persson, Westergren, Berggren, & Skovdahl, 2012b;Pajalic, Persson, Westergren, & Skovdahl, 2012a). The municipal kitchen is subordinate to the municipal care and service administration which is led by the administrative manager who in turn is subordinate to the management committee represented by politicians (elected citizens' representatives, n=23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Municipal care varies between different municipalities regarding its organisation, depending on local political and financial frames (Hjelm, Rolfe, Bryar, Andersson, & Fletcher, 2003;Janlöv, Hallberg, & Petersson, 2011). The main characteristic of all care and social service is that it includes all citizens and is financed mainly through taxes but where the citizens pay about 10% of the total cost (Elmér, 2000;Pajalic, et al, 2012b). The FD is regulated by a decision making processes at government and municipal level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies in other areas indicate that systematic work with decision-makers and their involvement in developing processes is beneficial for the development of municipal health and care services (Meyer & Davis, 2002;Nilsson, 2010). Despite the fact that FD in Sweden is regulated differently from that of other countries, there are several properties that are common (Pajalic, et al, 2012b). For instance, the grounds for requesting a service like FD, or the need for help with food are most likely similar in all countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study is based on the different perspectives of the FD recipients (Pajalic, et al, 2012b), the various involved professionals in the FD chain (Pajalic, et al, 2012a) and participation based intervention for identifying development areas and improving FD practice (Pajalic, Persson, Westergren, & Skovdahl, 2012c). This study shows that the FD service should not been seen as fragmentary social support.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Facilitating Change, the Decision-maker’s Views of Municipality Organized Food Distribution to Elderly People Living at Home and Suggestions for Development – A Participatory Action Research Study

Pajalić

Persson²,

Skovdahl³

et al. 2012

PAR

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This study is the final part of a larger project with an action research approach focusing on food distribution (FD) within municipal service and care for elderly persons, living at home (≥ 65 years), from various perspectives. The aim was to describe the decision-makers' the politicians and top level administrative manager's views on the FD service, and to give feedback from the results of earlier studies based on information given by FD receivers, the perspectives of involved professionals, and the results of an intervention study and further to report the decision-makers suggestions for which areas should be taken into consideration as starting points to improve the FD process and practice. Data was gathered in two steps: step 1, through individual interviews (n=12) with the decision-makers during the spring of 2009, step 2a through feedback from previous studies, received during the autumn of 2011 and step 2b from discussions based on the feedback. The interview data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings indicated a discrepancy between the reality and the political visions. It was shown that decision-maker's needed to make decisions despite their uncertain knowledge of the complexity of the FD programme. They considered what has been, what is, and will be, when setting goals. Their goal was that elderly person's rights and needs should be fulfilled. This included freedom of choice and individual consideration. In addition, it meant, meeting elderly people's medical and social needs. Three areas were found to require facilitation for change related to FD: 1) the monitoring of the elderly's health and wellbeing while providing FD, 2) the increasing of professional competence, and 3) the creation of a forum for inter-professional communication. The findings in this study have implications for nursing, gerontology and public administration.

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Food provision for older people receiving home care from the perspectives of home-care workers

Watkinson-Powell

Barnes

Lovatt

et al. 2014

Health Soc Care Community

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Malnutrition is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly among older people. Attention has focused on the inadequacies of food provision in institutions, yet the majority suffering from malnutrition live in the community. The aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators to food provision for older people receiving home care. It was a qualitative exploratory study using semi‐structured interviews with nine home‐care workers in June 2013 employed by independent agencies in a large city in northern England. Data were analysed thematically, based on the principles of grounded theory. Findings showed that significant time pressures limited home‐care workers in their ability to socially engage with service users at mealtimes, or provide them with anything other than ready meals. Enabling choice was considered more important than providing a healthy diet, but choice was limited by food availability and reliance on families for shopping. Despite their knowledge of service users and their central role in providing food, home‐care workers received little nutritional training and were not involved by healthcare professionals in the management of malnutrition. Despite the rhetoric of individual choice and importance of social engagement and nutrition for health and well‐being, nutritional care has been significantly compromised by cuts to social care budgets. The potential role for home‐care workers in promoting good nutrition in older people is undervalued and undermined by the lack of recognition, training and time dedicated to food‐related care. This has led to a situation whereby good quality food and enjoyable mealtimes are denied to many older people on the basis that they are unaffordable luxuries rather than an integral component of fundamental care.

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The Experiences of Elderly People Living at Home Related to Their Receiving Meals Distributed by a Municipality in Sweden

Cited by 13 publications

References 34 publications

Eating Difficulties, Nutrition, Meal Preferences and Experiences Among Elderly A Literature Overview From a Scandinavian Context

Eating Difficulties, Nutrition, Meal Preferences and Experiences Among Elderly A Literature Overview From a Scandinavian Context

Facilitating Change, the Decision-maker’s Views of Municipality Organized Food Distribution to Elderly People Living at Home and Suggestions for Development – A Participatory Action Research Study

Food provision for older people receiving home care from the perspectives of home-care workers

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