“I first met Niamh at Fairfield Nursing and Care Home in 2018. She was head chef and I was the visiting dietitian. My first trip to the home, she came out of the kitchen and gave me a look that said “I need to talk to you”. And she did! She had a list of nutrition and dysphagia questions as long as my arm! She spoke to me about her creative ideas; her desire to learn more and more and improve dysphagia care in the home. She told me about the food preferences of each resident and how well they were eating and drinking. What struck me most was Niamh’s passion. Her passion for helping each resident, particularly those with dysphagia to eat and drink and enjoy their food again. It was this passion that founded Dining with Dignity. Sharing her skills and talents with other nursing and care home chefs as well as the wider dysphagia community, Niamh wants to bring joy back to meal times for everyone with dysphagia. Our shared values, of helping to improve nutritional intake in those with dysphagia as well as improving their eating experience has meant that we have stayed in close contact, working on dysphagia projects and learning from each other. I see exciting things in Niamh’s future! Watch this space!”
Gráinne Kent
CORU Registered Dietitian and Researcher with IUNA
“Niamh’s Dining with Dignity holds a very special place in our family’s heart, we were fortunate to have Niamh as the chef in the nursing home where our lovely Mom was a resident. She changed my Mom’s life and gave her the gift of chocolate cake and delicious treats that we all thought were no longer an option as Mom had an issue with swallowing. Niamh’s amazing skill and the time she spent ensuring the best and most tempting sinful foods were all options for Mom and we are forever grateful. She made several celebratory cakes and Mom’s daily food looked and tasted unreal every single time.”
Annette Manning
Daughter of Resident
Niamh has contributed to newspaper articles and has gained a lot of attention within the health care nutrition circle.
https://vittles.substack.com/p/vittles-69-the-food-of-care-homes