Introducing Eatwell! Eat With Ease – Eat Well!

How often do we eat without really thinking about it? A quick smoothie here, a sandwich there, often we’re munching on the go and take being able do so for granted. However, one of the issues someone with dementia faces is the struggle to eat independently. Caregivers know how challenging mealtimes can be, because while your loved one wants to retain their independence it’s hard watching them try to feed themselves with impaired motor function. Yet help is at hand for adults, and children, with disabilities courtesy of Eatwell, a user-friendly dining set. Eatwell’s founder Sha Yao created the innovative product having volunteered at a care center. Her grandmother had Alzheimer’s and like many of us, she wanted to be able to make life as easy as possible for her.

Photo Credit: indiegogo

What many of us don’t realise is that dementia isn’t just about memory loss. It also affects motor skills, speech, movement, sleep and even lowers your reaction time to sudden events. Sha’s research shows that many people living with Alzheimer’s struggle with mealtimes, with accidents, such as spilling food or tipping over a glass of water being very common. This then leads to embarrassment, or confusion and subsequently they eat less because they’re afraid of making a mess or having to ask for more help.

However, the Eatwell meal set changes everything thanks to some nifty design features that aim to give control back to the diner! By making some small changes the set allows them to retain their dignity, while lowering the chances of any accidental spillages and dropped, or wasted food. Those with dementia tend to find it easier to visually recognise colour than black and while. Therefore boring white china is replaced with bright red and yellow ergonomic tableware. Yes, it’s a simple switch but one that encourages up to 24% more food and 84% more liquid to be consumed at mealtimes. Each item in the Eatwell set is covered in an anti-slip material, while wobbly cups are a thing of the past thanks to a bespoke cup guard. Not only does this reassure the diner themselves but a stable base reduces the likelihood of their cup falling over altogether.

Photo Credit: indiegogo

People caring for someone with dementia may also have noticed the difficulty they have spooning up liquids. It’s not an easy feat to begin with and if your hands are wobbly, or you feel unsure about what you’re doing then this task becomes far harder. Luckily, Eatwell’s unique spoons have been designed to mimic the curve of the bowl- sloping downwards to ensure easy scooping while encouraging your loved one to eat more because food automatically collects at the bottom of the dish.

Photo Credit: indiegogo

We know that living with dementia has its challenges but does eating need to be one of them? This is an affordable dishwasher friendly / microwave-safe set that has the power to transform the lives of those who require assistance in everyday life. An Eatwell set doesn’t just give someone the option to feed themselves, it helps take the stress out of mealtimes for their caregiver but, more importantly, allows everyone to feel happier about food.