Eating Well When Living With an Intellectual Disability—Exploring the Carer: Client Relationship in Residential Settings

Background Individuals with intellectual disabilities face increased risks of obesity and health issues. Carers in residential settings play a crucial role in shaping their dietary habits. This study explores how carers influence eating behaviours to identify strategies for healthy eating. Method Seventeen semi‐structured interviews were conducted with carers from three community homes. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: (i) whose responsibility is it?; (ii) food autonomy and choice in the context of caring relationships; (iii) opportunities for working together to support dietary choices. Results Carers strive to encourage healthy eating while respecting residents' autonomy, particularly in those with cognitive impairments or on psychotropic medications. They use strategies like rapport‐building, personalised care, and nutrition education. However, these efforts are limited by gaps in knowledge, time constraints, and variation in application and impact. Conclusions Findings highlight the practice gap and the need for better training and resources to support carers in promoting healthy food choices while respecting residents' autonomy.