TY - JOUR

T1 - Finger Food Meals as a Means of Improving Mealtimes for People with Motoric Eating Difficulties

T2 - A Pilot Study

AU - Forsberg, Sarah

AU - Nyberg, Maria

AU - Olsson, Viktoria

AU - Rothenberg, Elisabet

AU - Bredie, Wender L.P.

AU - Wendin, Karin

AU - Westergren, Albert

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Motoric eating difficulties affecting the ability to eat according to established norms may result in loss of autonomy, reduced food intake and decreased social interaction. Finger food meals may affect the ability to eat independently and were therefore compared to regular meals for older adults >65 years with major motoric eating difficulties. In this pilot study the screening instrument MEOF-II, including additional questions about use of cutlery and fingers, was used to collect data regarding autonomy, food intake and social interaction through observations. Five women and one man participated in the study. Results showed that finger food meals facilitated autonomous eating since the participants were able to eat independently without relying on help from others. Less energy was spent on eating, which allowed for social interaction. However, finger food meals entail unfamiliar norms and culinary rules which may hinder eating; this is an important factor to consider in the implementation of such meals. Further studies on finger foods for older adults may consider larger and diverse cohorts, including healthy older adults, those with motoric difficulties and those with early stages of cognitive decline. Also, a wider variety of finger foods for specific cultural preferences and situations may be considered.

AB - Motoric eating difficulties affecting the ability to eat according to established norms may result in loss of autonomy, reduced food intake and decreased social interaction. Finger food meals may affect the ability to eat independently and were therefore compared to regular meals for older adults >65 years with major motoric eating difficulties. In this pilot study the screening instrument MEOF-II, including additional questions about use of cutlery and fingers, was used to collect data regarding autonomy, food intake and social interaction through observations. Five women and one man participated in the study. Results showed that finger food meals facilitated autonomous eating since the participants were able to eat independently without relying on help from others. Less energy was spent on eating, which allowed for social interaction. However, finger food meals entail unfamiliar norms and culinary rules which may hinder eating; this is an important factor to consider in the implementation of such meals. Further studies on finger foods for older adults may consider larger and diverse cohorts, including healthy older adults, those with motoric difficulties and those with early stages of cognitive decline. Also, a wider variety of finger foods for specific cultural preferences and situations may be considered.

KW - Autonomy

KW - finger foods

KW - food intake

KW - motoric eating difficulties

KW - older adults

KW - social interaction

U2 - 10.1080/21551197.2024.2358755

DO - 10.1080/21551197.2024.2358755

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38819410

AN - SCOPUS:85194827714

JO - Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics

JF - Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics

SN - 2155-1197

ER -