Ramsay Newsroom
Peel Health Campus finds a bright solution to improve diets of dementia patients
February 05, 2021
Peel Health Campus has successfully trialled a program that helps dementia patients consume around 45% more nutritious food by serving it on red coloured plates.
In February 2020, the staff at PHC, part of Ramsay Health Care, created moulded meals served on red plates in a bid to increase the patient’s intake of essential nutrients.
Patients with dementia at PHC were served fortified vegetable moulds to assist them reaching their daily calorie and nutrient needs. It was found that up to 60% more vegetables were consumed if they are served in moulds.
PHC Senior Dietician, Josephine-Lee Oddo said the hospital usually has a minimum of 20 patients with dementia at any time, who are at increased risk of undernourishment, so any small change that helps is extremely important.
“Our goal is to prevent our patients from malnutrition which can lead to significant health issues for those with dementia. This is just one way PHC is supporting these patients who have dementia and other diseases,” she said.
“This initiative means meals appear more appetising by being served in moulds rather than scoops, and as a result is leading to patients consuming more.”
The red plates make the food stand out and are also a way to assist nursing staff in identifying which patients require assistance, from meal setup, help with opening packets or the need for additional monitoring.
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