The photo accompanying "The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale" (August) is disturbing. Patients feel intimidated when someone stands over them when offering food; this is particularly true for patients with dementia, who often feel threatened by this posture. Notice how the patient is raising his hand in defense and leaning away. Best practice would be to remove the food from the tray (making the meal presentation more like it is at home), sit beside the patient, and initiate a conversation. Sometimes, putting a spoon or a piece of buttered bread in his hand and guiding him to start eating will trigger a barely remembered response.

Had I walked into that room, I would have quickly found a chair for the woman trying to feed this gentleman.

Orange City, FL