Dementia and food exchange in nursing home dining areas

Some investigators have reported that residents of nursing homes engage in food exchange during meal times, and that demented residents may be more li kely to engage in such behaviors, usually taking food as part of more gener al disinhibited behavior. We investigated this claim directly using a behav ioral observation protocol. Over two 12-day periods, a total of I I I resid ents in two nursing home dining rooms was observed to determine the prevale nce of food exchange. Food exchange behaviors were noted among demented and nondemented residents. Overall, the prevalence of such behaviors was low; less than 10% of residents were observed taking or giving food. Demented re sidents were somewhat more likely to take food than nondemented residents; however; these differences did not achieve statistical significance. Dining room staff intercepted food exchanges in only about one quarter of such ca ses.