Eating with Colour:An Audit Investigating the Effect of Coloured Plates on Nutritional Intake in Patients with Dementia

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Laura Savage 1 , Gemma Adams 1, Matthew Walne 2

1. Barnsley Hospital; 2. Dept of Elderly care

Abstract

Background
Dementia is a syndrome of chronic progressive degeneration of the brain. Dementia causes reduced ability to self-feed due to problems with: swallow, apraxia and visuospatial dysfunction. Malnutrition in dementia patients is associated with delirium, longer admissions and functional decline.

Aim
To improve food intake in patients with dementia by 25% through the introduction of high-contrast coloured crockery on a Care of the Elderly ward.

Methods
Food charts were used on Care of the Elderly wards to assess food intake. In Cycle 1, coloured plates were introduced on Ward A, with pre and post-intervention data compared to Ward B(control), across both dementia and non-dementia groups.

In Cycle 2, the intervention was extended to Ward B. Results were compared with Ward A, which continued to use coloured plates.

Results

In Cycle 1, dementia patients on Ward A showed a 42% increase in food intake following the introduction of coloured plates as a novel intervention. There was also an increase of 9% in non-dementia patients.

In Cycle 2, Ward B demonstrated no significant change through introduction of high contrast crockery 4%. However, this finding is potentially limited by small sample size and inconsistent food chart completion. Non-dementia patients on ward B showed a 26% increase in intake post intervention. Ward A still had a sustained increase in food intake compared to pre-intervention levels.

Conclusion
Coloured plates may help improve food recognition and intake in dementia patients; however, nutritional outcomes are influenced by a range of factors. A comprehensive, person-centred approach including a supportive mealtime environment, appropriate food options, trained staff, and tailored care is essential for sustained improvement.

Study limitations included small sample sizes and inconsistent food chart documentation, which may have affected data reliability. A future cycle will focus on enhancing staff education to further support nutritional care.

Comments

Great findings, exciting future potential interventions.

Great findings and exciting future potential interventions. Were you surprised by the findings? A reminder that changes can benefit many.

(and what colour were the plates?)

It was interesting to see…

It was interesting to see how a simple intervention can potentially benefit not just a target population but a wider patient population too. We used blue plates which were sourced through charitable funding.

Interesting project

Thank you for sharing your findings, I reckon you did an audit before the first cycle and intervention, yes?
And what colour where the plates before and after tour intervention?
Thanks

Confounding factors

The stark increase in food intake by 42% is a significant finding and very interesting. How long was each cycle conducted over? Do you think that more appealing meal options on a certain week could have contributed to the increase intake as well as the plates?

Data was collected for…

Data was collected for breakfast, lunch and evening meals over a 1 week period for each cycle. I think meal options were largely similar week to week and there were a variety of choices available to each patient at all meal times so they could have a preference of preferred meal to help encourage intake.