AI creating visual menus for people with dementia
The images will support residents to decide what meals to order.
Residents at Lutheran Services aged care homes in Queensland are participating in research involving artificial intelligence to support people with dementia to make food choices at mealtimes.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast, the first phase of the study seeks to explore residents’ attitudes towards images of food.
“What they are drawn to in the imagery, the food selections, and the way food is presented to them,” Dr Tricia King – researcher and lecturer in photography at UniSC – told Australian Ageing Agenda. “This has led to discussions around how food is delivered at the table, how important presentation is, portion sizes, and the role of colour on the plate. So far, we’ve had many people enjoy telling the research team about their childhood table setting and the food their mum used to make for them.”
After discussing residents’ likes and dislikes, the research team will create AI-generated images of their favourite meals. These will act as visual cues to help people with dementia choose what to eat. “We work together to use AI to create an image of their favourite meal, which allows the resident to articulate their favourite food memory,” Dr King said.
Four Lutheran Services sites are participating in the research: homes in Buderim, Caboolture, Woodridge and Laidley. Once the results are collated, AI will be used to create visual menus.
“Ultimately, the data gathered will inform the creation of a series of visual prompts which will drive the second half of the project, which explores the barriers and facilitators to autonomy of food choices for people living with dementia in aged care,” Dr King told AAA.
There are also plans to develop an app to help residents with decreased communication abilities order meals.
Tricia Davis – Lutheran Services executive lead for aged care and quality – hopes the research will present real health benefits for residents living with dementia.
“Aged care residents with cognitive decline are at a higher risk of malnutrition because memory loss leads to confusion,” she said. “The team at Lutheran Services looks forward to the research leading to a positive impact.”
Dr King is confident it will. “Everyone on the research team believes this project will lead to positive change with the tools we create,” she said. Such an outcome would vastly improve residents’ wellbeing. After all, as Dr King told AAA: “Food is incredibly important, not just for nutrition but for socialisation, memory, and family.”
Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to our premium content or AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.
