Longing for homeliness: exploring mealtime experiences of patients suffering from a neurological disease

ConclusionsTo patients suffering from a neurological disease, mealtimes are not only a manageable task, but also a part of existential care that leads to positive experience. Aesthetic elements were shown to have the potential of making the patients feel comfortable and homely when hospitalised. This was important, as our study also identified that patients were longing for homeliness when participating in mealtimes during hospitalisation.
Relevance to clinical practiceOur findings emphasised the need of proceeding to interventions that includes mealtime assistance and protects the mealtime activity. Hence, it informs hospital organisations of the importance of restructuring mealtime environment, so that existential care can take place.

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences - August 24, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Malene Beck, Ingrid Poulsen, Bente Martinsen, Regner Birkelund Tags: Empirical Studies Source Type: research