Meaning and experience of “eating out” for families living with dementia

Twenty-eight care partners and 27 persons living with dementia in the community participated in qualitative active interviews to provide their perspectives on the meaning and experience of eating out. Using grounded theory methodology, a substantive theory on eating out as a way of balancing life was developed. Two types of balance were identified: (1) environmental balance through spicing up life and minimizing demands and (2) social balance through binding glue and being part of a peer group. The many changes noted around dementia required families to adopt strategies to help achieve balance and support successful experiences eating away from home.