Course Oveview

Mealtimes can change when someone you love is living with dementia. What once felt simple can become stressful, emotional, or uncertain.

This short, self-paced course is here to support you — with compassion, practical guidance, and reassurance that you are not alone.

Nurturing Through Mealtimes helps you create calmer, more positive mealtime experiences — for your loved one and for yourself.

Rather than focusing on what’s “going wrong,” this course helps you understand why mealtimes change and how small, realistic adjustments can reduce stress, support dignity, nourishment, and connection.

This is not about getting things perfect. It’s about gentle shifts that make everyday moments feel more manageable.

Course curriculum

    1. Course Introduction

    2. Learning Objectives

    3. A Message for You

    1. Why Mealtimes Change

    2. A Familiar Mealtime Moment

    3. Every Action Is a Message

    4. This is not a test

    1. Seeing the Person First

    2. These Core Principles with Practical Examples

    3. This is also not a test

    1. Supporting Nutrition Gently

    2. When Food Preferences Change

    3. Swallowing & Safety

    4. Safe Eating & Texture Tips

    5. There are no tests here

    1. Why Environment Matters

    2. Calm vs Rushed Meals

    3. Just a question

    1. You Matter Too

    2. A Compassionate Message to Caregivers

    3. You get the idea

    4. Pause & Plan: Your Personal Action Steps

    5. Meal Time Quick Wins

    6. Mealtime Reflection Journal

    7. Before we close off ...

    8. Learner Evaluation

    9. Thank You For Your Feedback!

    10. A Closing Message

About this course

  • $24.95
  • 30 lessons
  • Format: Self-paced, on-demand
  • Estimated time: ~30–40 minutes
  • Delivery: Plain language text with audio reflections

Supporting Loved Ones Living with Dementia

Enroll today

Who This Course Is For

  • Family members caring for a loved one with dementia

  • Partners, adult children, and close friends supporting daily meals

  • Anyone feeling unsure, tired, or overwhelmed around mealtimes

  • No prior training or experience is needed.

What you’ll learn

In this course, you’ll learn how to:

  • Understand why eating behaviours change in dementia
  • Respond to refusal, distraction, or agitation with less pressure
  • Use person-centred strategies that preserve dignity and choice
  • Support nutrition and hydration gently
  • Adapt the mealtime environment to reduce stress
  • Recognise when extra support may be needed
  • Care for yourself as an essential part of the care plan


A human, supportive approach

Throughout the course, you’ll hear short audio reflections from Daphne Noonan, co-founder of Person Centred Universe.

  • These reflections are designed to:
  • Normalise caregiver stress
  • Reframe difficult moments with compassion
  • Help you feel supported, not instructed

Helpful take-home resources

You’ll also receive practical downloads, including:

  • Mealtime Quick Wins Help Sheet - Simple changes that can ease stress right away
  • Safe Eating & Texture Tips - A clear, non-alarming guide to support comfort and safety


These are designed to be practical, printable, and easy to revisit.

What this course is not

This course is not:

  • A medical or clinical training
  • A long, academic program
  • A test of whether you’re “doing it right”


It is a supportive space to learn, reflect, and feel less alone.

A gentle close

If mealtimes have started to feel heavy or uncertain, this course is here to support you — without judgement, pressure, or overwhelm.

Small changes can make a meaningful difference.

And you don’t have to navigate this alone.