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

BACKGROUND: Many patients suffering from a neurological disease experience eating difficulties during mealtimes in the hospital. Consequently, they often refrain from eating in public places to avoid potentially awkward situations. Eating is an essential part of life, providing patients with comfort during their hospitalisation. Therefore, attention should be paid to these patients, who encounter eating difficulties to foster a positive mealtime experience.

AIM: To study what patients afflicted with a neurological disease experience and assign meaning when participating in mealtimes during hospitalisation.

METHOD: Ten semi-structured interviews with patients were conducted and recorded. After transcription the text was analysed, and interpreted compromising three methodological steps inspired by the French philosopher, Paul Ricouer.

FINDINGS: Three themes were identified through data analysis and interpretation: i) The missing feeling of homeliness, ii) The battle between socialisation vs. isolation, and iii) The sense of time, rhythm, and presence.

CONCLUSIONS: To 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 PRACTICE: Our 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.