Partners at Meals - Respite Care and Home (PAM)

The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of a mealtime intervention in respite care centers for people with dementia and their caregivers. Mealtimes become more challenging as dementia progresses causing nutritional and behavioral issues in the affected individuals. Using a train-the-trainer program built on the Partners at Meals model, volunteers in respite centers partner worked with caregivers and developed a mealtime plan that builds on the strengths of the person with dementia (PWD), and developed a supportive environment for change. A tele-health component was involved in the communication between the respite center volunteers/staff and families. Recruitment was limited to people attending the particular respite centers. Two large RCCs with a total of 5 sites of care in suburban and rural areas of SC were the sites of this project.