Eating and drinking well in later life: what good mealtime care looks like

Health & daily life · 4 min read · Last updated 2 November 2026

Good food and enough to drink protect health, mood and dignity, and mealtimes are often the best part of a day in a care home. Appetite can fall with age, and illness, dementia or sore teeth can make eating harder. This guide draws on good-practice guidance from the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and the Alzheimer's Society to show what to look for. It is general information, not medical advice.

Why it matters

The Care Inspectorate says good food can address complex nutritional needs and reduce the risk of malnutrition and dehydration. It adds that appetite may lessen with age, which can lead to weight loss, and that malnutrition is largely preventable and treatable through early intervention and screening.

Good hydration matters too. The same guidance says it helps prevent or treat constipation, pressure ulcers and confusion, and that drinking more water can reduce urinary tract infections.

What good practice looks like

A food-first approach: staff are creative in encouraging people to eat, and enrich meals with extra calories for people whose appetite has fallen.
A varied diet: meals in the right proportions to meet energy and nutrient needs every day.
Choice that reflects the person: food choices are shaped by enjoyment, habit, cultural heritage, tradition and taste, so menus should reflect them. This includes vegetarian and vegan options.
A pleasant dining experience: meals are a social activity, and a pleasant setting encourages people to eat and drink.
The right help at the right time: people whose health affects their eating need practical assistance, and staff who can spot signs of malnutrition risk.
Textured diets that look appetising: for people with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), the guidance refers to international standard descriptors for food textures and says modified food can be made to look appetising and similar to standard food.

Many families moving a relative to the Mediterranean ask about familiar food. Ask whether the home can offer dishes your relative knows and enjoys, as well as local food. See settling in to a care home.

When someone may be struggling to eat

The Alzheimer's Society lists signs that a person with dementia may have dental pain or mouth problems, and several of them affect eating:

Eating less or refusing food, especially hard, very hot or very cold foods, which can lead to weight loss and malnutrition.
Frequently touching the face or mouth, or a swollen face.
Leaving dentures out, or dentures that fit poorly.
Restlessness, moaning, shouting or disturbed sleep, particularly when someone tries to help with mouth care.

The Alzheimer's Society notes that a person may not be able to explain pain, so these changes should not be dismissed as just part of dementia. Dry mouth is another cause: it advises first checking hydration, since people with dementia often drink less than they need. See mouth, sight and hearing care.

Questions to ask at mealtimes

These are our suggested questions, based on the good-practice points above. Ideally, visit at a mealtime to see for yourself.

Can I see a sample weekly menu, and how are residents' preferences and cultural or religious needs met?
Is there a choice at each meal, and can I bring or request familiar foods?
How is each resident's weight and appetite monitored, and who is told if it changes?
Who helps residents who need support to eat, and is there enough time for them?
How are drinks offered through the day, and how do you encourage people who rarely ask?
How are textured diets prepared for people with swallowing difficulties?
What is the dining room like: calm, sociable and pleasant?

Our visit checklist covers other things to notice. If you are worried about a resident's care, see warning signs and raising concerns.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for appetite to fall with age?

The Care Inspectorate says appetite may lessen with age, potentially leading to weight loss. That is why monitoring and enriching meals matter. A sudden or marked change is worth raising with a doctor.

Can a care home provide food that suits my relative’s culture?

Good practice guidance says food choices are shaped by habit, cultural heritage and tradition, and that menus should reflect them. Ask each home what it can offer and whether you can bring familiar foods.

Why might a person with dementia stop eating?

There can be many causes. The Alzheimer's Society notes that dental pain, poorly fitting dentures or a dry mouth can all affect eating, so these should be checked before assuming it is the dementia.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information only, compiled from the public sources listed above as of the date shown. It is not legal, medical, tax, financial or care advice, and we cannot guarantee that it is complete, accurate or up to date. Rules, thresholds and prices change and differ by country and region, and some sources describe other countries' rules as examples. Check details with the authorities and care homes named, and take professional advice for your own situation before you act. If you spot an error, please email [email protected] and we will correct it.