“It is helpful if a patient with dementia can see what is on offer, as often they will pick what looks good,” explains Dementia Nurse Karan Scrivener. “Showing the picture before serving the meal may also act as a reminder to the person of the choice they have made.”
“This menu will be another really important tool for staff to enable people with learning disabilities to make choices and consequently aid their recovery while they are in hospital,” said Daniel Marsden, Practice Development Nurse for People with learning disabilities.
There will be one or two menus per ward, kept in the ward kitchen. These will be a great resource for our nursing and housekeeping staff, as well as volunteers, when trying to understand the best choices for patients to encourage them to eat as much as they can.
The menus have been in development for over a year, with input from members of the public, AgeUK, Dementia Carers and staff and patients throughout the Trust.
East Kent Hospitals new ‘picture menu’ will be distributed to all wards soon.
