The beginning of my story is bittersweet because the reason I do what I do is simple. My mum, who died in 2020.
Mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014, and she stopped eating over the Christmas period of 2016. I remember it like it was yesterday. If you’ve ever watched someone you care for begin to waste away, you’ll know what I mean. It’s heartbreaking. But she simply refused to eat or drink.
Through repeat urine and chest infections, care professionals continued to tell me that Mum had given up, and that I should accept she would not be with me much longer. Rather than giving up myself, my professional experience told me otherwise. I refused to listen, and I took charge of mealtimes.
And I watched her.
I noticed her mealtime behaviours and what her eating environment was like. Sounds, noises, people, clutter. All the small things that wouldn’t matter to anyone else. I watched, and I tweaked. And I watched and tweaked some more.
And mum started eating again. Independently! She kept eating, kept gaining weight and enjoyed a good quality of life for another four and a half years.
After witnessing Mum’s transformation, I wanted to share what I’d learnt and so I created a FREE resource, my 37 page Dignified Dining Solutions Guide, and the response was incredible. What I had was a book that tackled the challenges of dementia mealtimes and offered tried-and-tested suggestions, and it took the care world by storm everywhere, from care homes to dieticians, as well as the NHS.
But I needed to reach more people. I presented workshops in a bid to spread what I had learned, and I even shot a professionally filmed video titled ‘Made With Love’ that went viral! When I’d read that my video had been dubbed the ‘go-to training resource for care home caterers’, I knew I had something worth shouting about.
I officially founded Jo Bonser Consultancy and Training in early 2022, and I’m delighted to say I’ve been involved in transforming the lives of ladies and gents living in care homes since.
I really think Mum would be proud of what I’m doing. I know I am.
Consultant Specialising In Eating With Dementia
I’m the ONLY consultant in the UK exclusively dedicated to helping people with dementia to eat better. With 33 years of experience behind me, I’ve worked with hundreds of care homes, hospitals and people caring for family members at home to transform their mealtime experience and give them a more comfortable life.
I’m completing a course through Bournemouth University Supporting People Living with Dementia to Eat and Drink Well, I’m a longstanding member of the National Association of Care Catering and have recently also joined the Hospital Caterers Association.