Person-centered care and residents' mealtime experience in long-term care homes: A review of the literature

Older people residing in long-term care facilities are at risk of malnutrition due to inadequate consumption of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients necessary for maintaining their overall health and functionality. Numerous factors have been theorized to make an impact on food consumption. To ensure residents' medical, nutritional, and psychosocial mealtime needs are fulfilled, the mealtime experience in long-term care homes (LTCs) should be comprehensive and informed by the principles of person-centered care (PCC). Although there has been a move towards implementing person-centered approaches in long-term care homes, the practicality and connection of the notion of "personhood" in routine activities, such as residents' dining experiences remain uncertain. This capstone project reviews and synthesizes current literature on mealtime experience of residents living in LTCs with a focus on person-centered care. A literature review was conducted using databases such as Ageline, PsychINFO, Google Scholar, Cochrane, PubMed and the Simon Fraser University library catalogue. A total of 38 articles that addressed the research questions were identified and incorporated in this review. Based on the existing empirical evidence, it can be inferred that mealtimes hold a crucial role in not only providing essential nutrition, but also serve a critical opportunity for social interaction and emotional bonding for residents with staff and other residents. Several social, physical environmental and organizational factors influence the implementation of person-centered care practices that honor the dignity and choice of residents and strengthen resident and care staff relations. The findings of this review inform care providers of long-term care by identifying issues and strategies to mitigate malnutrition in care homes and implement person-centered mealtime care practices, and ultimately, improve residents' quality of life.