Being able to eat a meal independently is an important skill especially within the workplace. For people experiencing difficulty in controlling movement of their arms between their bowl, plate, cup and mouth, independent feeding devices are available to assist in some circumstances.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
People experiencing movement control difficulties, such as muscle weakness, tremors, uncontrolled movements or poor grip, may have difficulty consuming meals independently if they are unable to control the movement of their hand to the mouth.
Self feeding products can enable a large range of foods to be eaten independently, for people who have difficulty using both hands. With some assistance to prepare food and place it into a feeding device, people can use these devices to eat meals independently within the workplace. These feeding devices are generally clamped onto a table surface, holding specially designed high sided plates and cutlery mounted on an adjustable arm. Depending on the type used, they can be operated by use of a foot pedal, moving the stabilised arm or through a spring loaded device to assist in guidance of the feeding arm to the mouth.
For more information on products that can assist either food preparation or consumption see the links below:
References
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Miscellaneous, Independent Living Centres Australia, Sydney, viewed 26 January 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=QLD&MC=31&MinC=89
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