Mealtime verbal interactions among nursing home staff and residents with dementia: A secondary behavioural analysis of videotaped observations.

Positive dyadic mealtime interactions are critical to engage residents in eating. Little work has characterized dyadic mealtime interactions, limiting the development of effective interventions. Findings showed staff-resident mealtime verbal interactions were primarily positive, inter-related, and associated with multiple individual characteristics. Findings inform directions to improve mealtime care practice and develop person-centred mealtime interventions targeting modifiable factors, including staff care-giving experiences.