The objective of this systematic review is to assess whether old people should be actively involved in activities related to meals to support quality of life, nutritional status and functional abilities related to meals. Two electronic databases Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness were searched, supported by PubMed citation, snowball searches. Eleven primary studies were included. The quality was low. No studies assessed the effect on health-related quality of life. Three types of interventions to support activities related to meals were identified: Meal-related activities to facilitate improved autonomy seemed to overall improve nutritional intake, physical and social function related to meals, plus mealtime coping. Interventions of encouragement and reinforcement by staff to facilitate independence in eating seemed to have beneficial effect on nutritional intake and physical function related to meals. Interventions using food preparation and cooking to support participation seemed to have beneficial effects on social function related to meals and mealtime coping. There is an urgent need for good quality, adequately powered studies in this area and among old people in all health care settings.
Keywords: Functional status; mealtime coping; nutritional status; quality of life.