Catering for dementia - Bento Boxes

Caterplus works with care homes right across the country, many of which offer care to residents suffering debilitating brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Despite the seriousness of these conditions many of the symptoms experienced by sufferers can be controlled or alleviated using nutrition.

So Caterplus has redeveloped the Japanese concept of a ‘bento box’ - a traditional Japanese way of presenting small quantities of food on a compartmentalised tray.

The bento boxes are used alongside an easy-reference database which identifies the symptoms experienced by dementia sufferers and the corresponding nutrition groups and foods to alleviate them.

The bento boxes provide a visual stimulus using different colours and shapes. They also address the issue of lack of appetite experienced by many dementia sufferers by providing food that is easy-to-eat and served in small portions.

Each day the boxes are filled with a freshly prepared selection of carbohydrate, protein and vitamins in the shape of fruit and vegetables along with a dessert.

Bento boxes also contain soup to complement the contents of the boxes, providing essential nutrition and helping to prevent dehydration, a common side-effect of dementia.

Our staff are fully trained in the preparation of bento boxes and a training programme is available for care staff on how to get the most out of them.