Assessments in assisted eating activities

The case of supporting people in late-stage dementia

Authors

  • Ali Reza Majlesi Stockholm University
  • Anna Ekström Linköping University
  • Lars-Christer Hydén Linköping University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.18648

Keywords:

Assessments, Persons with late-stage dementia, Conversation Analysis, Mealtime activities, Elderly care homes

Abstract

This study deals with assessment as an interactional practice in assisted eating activities involving people with late-stage dementia (here Alzheimer’s disease) in an elderly care home. The dataset for the study consists of video recordings of 26 occasions of eating activities. We investigate the use of embodied, vocal and verbal assessments (e.g., headshakes, nods and gustatory ‘mmm’) together with evaluative terms (e.g., ‘good’ or ‘great’) in three consecutive phases in these activities: ‘introducing the mealtime activity’, ‘offering the food’ and ‘receiving the food’. Drawing on multimodal analysis of interaction, we analyze three mealtime events, in which we show how assessments are issued by caregivers more often in interaction with a person with dementia who appears less engaged in the activity compared to a more engaged resident. Moreover, the analysis explicates how assessments fit in with the overall organization of the activity and are issued in a timely fashion when the food is introduced and brought close to the lips of the person with dementia, and when it is accepted. The findings show that assessments are used not only to share an evaluation of e.g., food or the action of the person with dementia, but also to manage the assisted eating activity. Assessments seem to be used distinctively (1) to build joint attention in the eating activity and (2) to encourage the assisted person to submit to/continue the activity of eating.

Author Biographies

  • Ali Reza Majlesi, Stockholm University

    Ali Reza Majlesi received his PhD in Language and Culture from Linköping University, Sweden, and holds a position as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education at Stockholm University, Sweden. He conducts research on social interaction, with particular focus on embodied practices in social activities. He is interested in professional practices, health and communication in various settings. He draws on ethnomethodological conversation analysis and multimodal analysis of social interaction. He is also a collaborator with the Center for Dementia Research (CEDER) at Linköping University, Sweden.

  • Anna Ekström, Linköping University

    Anna Ekström received her PhD in Educational Science in 2012 from Stockholm University, Sweden. Her recent work has focused on interaction and collaboration in activities that involve people with dementia as well as the organization of educational activities involving children with developmental language disorder. She holds a position as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University.

  • Lars-Christer Hydén, Linköping University

    Lars-Christer Hydén received his PhD in Psychology from Stockholm University, Sweden. His current position is as Professor of Social Psychology at Linköping University, Sweden, and as Director of the Centre for Dementia Research (CEDER). His research primarily is concerned with how people with Alzheimer’s disease and their significant others interact and use language as a way to sustain and negotiate everyday life and a sense of self.

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Published

2022-02-17

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Articles

License

copyright Equinox Publishing Ltd.

How to Cite

Majlesi, A. R., Ekström, A., & Hydén, L.-C. (2022). Assessments in assisted eating activities: The case of supporting people in late-stage dementia. Communication and Medicine, 17(2), 134-149. https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.18648