Over the course of our lives we become quite accustomed to the sounds that our forks, knives and spoons make when they touch our dinner plates or cereal bowls. That familiar "clink" is a part of the rhythm of our lives. My dog even knows the sound my spoon makes when I finish my cereal in the morning. He usually gets to finish off a little of the milk.
Unfortunately that familiar and comforting sound of real dinnerware gets removed from many older adult's regular routines. Dinnerware that has been specially adapted to their needs is often crafted of plastic. While these plates, cups and bowls do incorporate features that are beneficial for those with dining challenges, they still lack a bit of the ambiance that regular dinnerware has.
Wade Ceramics of Great Britain perceived this gap in our senior's dining environment and in collaboration with the world renowned University of Stirling Dementia Services Development Center created the Dignity line of dinnerware.
Each piece in the Dignity line up is specially crafted to aid not only the mechanics of dining, but also the experience. All Dignity pieces are finely crafted ceramic. They are made out of vitrified earthenware with added alumina for extra strength. Vitrification (literally to make like glass) permanently seals the piece to prevent staining or absorption of any kind.
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| Dignity 9" Dinner Plate |
One of the first things people notice about Dignity dinnerware is the bright colors. Studies have shown that recognition of food can be a challenge for Alzheimer's and other dementia patients. Brightly colored dinnerware helps food stand out to them. Greater recognition leads to greater caloric intake which is often needed in these cases. The 9" plate shown above features a high sidewall (left edge) which allows diners to push food onto their utensils easier. The right edge is wide and flat to assist with grasping and carrying.
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| Dignity Soup-Cereal Bowl |
The Dignity soup-cereal bowl has a wide rim which facilitates grasping and carrying. It also features steep sides which keep liquids from sloshing over the side, and which help to load a spoon with cereal or soup noodles.
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| Dignity Ceramic 2 Handle Feeder Mug |
The Dignity 2 Handle Feeder Mug has an open spout which controls fluid flow, but will also allow smaller noodles and thicker liquids to pass through. The two handle design allows diners of either dominant hand to lift and drink comfortably with one or both arms. Larger loops allow multiple fingers to support the mug.
June Andrews, Director of the Stirling Dementia Development Centre says:
"Eating and drinking is very important in demantia. For all of us, the whole experience is crucial, not just the right food at the right temperature at the right time, but we are all affected by the ambience of the room and the company we are with. Not least the table settings are crucial. Having arrractive crockery and cutlery can make a big difference to our appetite and how we enjoy our food. People with dementia sometimes have special requirements. They need colored plates that allow them to see what they are eating and the plates need to be easy to use with rims to help scooping and lifting of food. Cups need to have big enough handles for two fingers to slip through. If it not a picnic, there should be no plastic."
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| Dignity 3 Piece Set - Available in White, Green, and Yellow |
Serve Your Loved Ones on Dignity Ceramic Dinnerware
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