This introduction of this support follows on from the roll out of the company’s Dignified Dining toolkit last year with the Alzheimer’s Society, which aimed to provide patients with tailored nutritional care. These initiatives will be introduced to 30 hospital trusts where Medirest delivers food to patients.
Maxine Cartz, dietitian at Compass Group UK&I, said: “People living with dementia often find it difficult to meet their nutritional needs. Our Dignified Dining toolkit provides key guidelines to enable people with the condition to be given specialist support in relation to their food provision.
“Following on from this, we are now excited to be launching our blue plates range and tailored finger-food menu items as it will provide further support to people affected by dementia when it comes to mealtimes and encouraging them to eat.”
The blue pates have been introduced to help people living with dementia who are experiencing sight and perception difficulties as a result to distinguish between their food and crockery.
Medirest introduced this measure in response to research that shows the use of a bright, contrasting colour plates helps people see their food more easily and encourages people with dementia to eat more and maintain a balanced diet.
The new finger-food options include food which people living with the condition may find easier to eat with their hands, from a range of hot food, salads, sandwiches to healthy dessert options.