College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
University of Saskatchewan
The Cognitive Kitchen: A culinary nutrition program for older adults, care-partners and persons with cognitive impairment or dementia An interdisciplinary group of researchers, clinicians, and persons with lived experience co-designed a program pairing evidence-based eating strategies and lifestyle habits with cooking and socialization to support dementia risk reduction and living well with dementia. The ‘Cognitive Kitchen’ is a 6-week culinary nutrition program for older adults, care-partners and persons living with cognitive impairment or dementia. Each weekly 2-hour session follows a theme (e.g., ‘Bringing Science to the Table’, ‘To Taste’. ‘To Share’). Sessions includes an overt educational component (nutrition and dementia risk reduction and dietary patterns that support brain health), a culinary demonstration and participation in preparing 2 or more recipes that illustrate components of dietary strategies, covert educational components (e.g., emphasizing abilities, ‘all foods fit’, ‘cook once-eat twice’, self compassion), and socialization activities. The program is supported by a facilitator manual and a participant workbook. A dietitian facilitates the sessions, enabling each program to be better tailored to the particular needs of each group. After initial piloting to test virtual delivery and refine the program materials, 9 in-person and 7 virtual programs were delivered. The program has proven to be feasible with participants reporting adoption of healthy eating strategies, enhanced food skills, and regaining enthusiasm for nutrition. Comparison of virtual and in-person program delivery yielded findings about engagement, adaptability, and practicality. This presentation describes the co-designed program and ‘lessons learned’ through the feasibility testing.
Dr. Allison Cammer PhD, RD is an Associate Professor and Program Director – Dietetics in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan. Her program of research focuses on nutrition and aging. Her work on dementia spans risk reduction, living well within the community, long-term care and supporting end of life care. She co-chairs the Saskatchewan Long-Term Care Dietitians Working Group and is a Board member of the Alzheimer Society of the Saskatchewan. As an associate of the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health, Dr. Cammer is a co-lead of the Rural Dementia Action Research (RaDAR) program and is committed to supporting knowledge translation and practice innovations that enhance the well-being of rural communities.