Personal Place Mats Contents Introduction Information about Personal Place Mats. How information is gathered. Guidance to complete a Personal Place Mat. An example of a completed Personal Place Mat. A blank Template for a Personal Place Mat.

My name is Angela Crocker and I am a Speech and Language Therapist. I currently work for North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust. I have over 10 years experience working with Adults who have Learning Disabilities and additional communication and/or swallowing difficulties. I developed the idea of Personal Place Mats as a simple effective way of summarising the information that can help people with learning disabilities have a pleasurable, safe and successful mealtime. The mats have been so successful that I developed this template to allow others to try the mats for themselves. If you have any ideas or comments to make this template better or you would like further information please contact me. Angela Crocker Speech and Language Therapist Everton Centre Crumlin Road Belfast BT14 7GB Telephone References Murphy J. (1998) Talking Mats Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) Millar, S. & Aitken, S. (2003) Personal Communication Passports: guidelines for good practice CALL Centre,

Personal Place Mat Many people need some help and support at mealtimes. A Personal Place Mat is a summary of the information that is important to ensure that a person’s mealtime is pleasurable, safe and successful. The information is simplified and written in the first person. It is presented in the sequence of how it will be needed during a mealtime. PCS symbols are used to break the information up so it can be located easily. The symbol is placed on the left and the relevant written information on the right. A picture or photograph of the person’s choice is placed on the reverse side. The photograph can be of the person and any special equipment. The place mats are A4 size and laminated so that they are durable and easily wiped clean. The mat helps to pull together complex information and present it in a person centred easy to follow format. The mats are useful for people who cannot easily speak for themselves as a quick, accessible reference during mealtimes. They are particularly essential when a person is in a new environment or being supported by a new person.

How information is gathered? If a person has been seen for a swallowing assessment seek advice from Speech and Language Therapy. A template and guidance for completing the template is attached. Please read the guidance before completing a Personal Place Mat. Remember the Personal Place Mat will not contain all the available information but a summary of the important information. Involve the person when gathering the information. An excellent low-tech communication framework called Talking Mats™ has been used successfully to enable people with communication difficulties express their opinions. If you are unable to involve the person, spend time observing them during mealtimes and gather information from all the people and professionals that know the person best. It is important to review the information and keep it updated.

Guidance to Complete a Personal Place Mat Use can use the suggested headings or be creative and make up your own. Use a background colour, e.g. red to help alert people to people with difficulties. When writing, use a clear font like comic sans and try to use a minimum of size 14pt font. Use easy words, plain English and try to write as you speak. Use short sentences, one main idea in each sentence. Write in the first person, e.g. “I like milk” rather than “Angela likes milk”. Avoid sentences that are longer than one line. Swallow This should state if the person has ever had a swallowing assessment. For example ‘I have swallowing difficulties and was seen for a swallowing assessment please read the Speech and Language Therapy report.’ or ‘I do not have swallowing problems and have never been seen for a swallowing assessment’. Food Describe the current food textures, e.g. normal diet, cut up, soft, easy chew, pureed. Estimate amount if important. Indicate particular likes and dislikes. Drink Describe the current drink texture, e.g. normal liquids, thickened to a syrup, custard or semi- solid consistency. Estimate amount if important. Indicate likes or dislikes. Where and when Describe important environmental factors including, noise level, position within the room, who they eat with. Estimate frequency and timing of food and drink.

Guidance continued Position Outline special seating or furniture, e.g. chair with arms, wheelchair, small table. If necessary describe how to support the person to achieve an upright posture. It may be useful to insert a photograph. Equipment List all specialised equipment, e.g. scoop bowl, non-slip mat, plastic spoon, angled fork, modified cup. It may be useful to insert a photograph. Protection Detail how to protect a person’s clothing from spillage. And how to support them to freshen up following a mealtime. Communication and choice Describe how a person communicates, e.g. that they are hungry, thirsty, want more, had enough, in pain etc. Describe how they currently choose what they eat and drink, e.g. if they need help choosing from a menu. Risks and the help I need Highlight any risks at mealtimes, e.g. choking, aspiration. This should include any medical condition that could impact on eating and drinking, e.g. epilepsy, diabetes. Describe any support and supervision required.

Example and Template to make your own Personal Placemat 1.Fill in the information on the template 2.Remember you can delete boxes you do not want, make boxes bigger and add pictures that you do want. 3.Save the file with a new name (so you can keep the Template blank for another time) 4.Print out the slides (Slides 11-12, in colour and scale to fit A4 paper) 5.Laminate

Personal Place Mat Angela Crocker 1 st August 2006 Hi my name is Angela I have all drinks thickened to a puree consistency. This is my spoon. example

Personal Place Mat : Angela Crocker 1 st August 2006 Swallow I have swallowing difficulties. Please read the Speech and Language Therapy report date Food I eat all my food pureed. My dietician asks me to eat 1 Forticream a day. Drink I drink all liquids thickened to a puree consistency using thickener, please read the instructions. Where and when I like to eat in a quiet room. I like a drink when I come in and I like to eat lunch at 1pm. Equipment Please use a small reinforced plastic spoon, see the photograph on reverse. Protection I like to wear an apron to protect my clothes. Use a tissue to clean my face and dab, don’t wipe. Communication and choice I have no speech and depend on people who know me well to interpret my communication behaviours. Risks and help I need I need you to feed me all my food and drink. I have epilepsy and need to be supervised closely. Name of person completing mat: Chris Nibb If there are any concerns about eating, drinking or swallowing, please refer to Speech and Language Therapy. Some of the clinical signs that can indicate a swallowing difficulty include coughing/choking on food or drink, wet gargly voice, recurrent chest infections, weight loss. Position It is important that I eat in my wheelchair in an upright position. example

Personal Place Mat Name Date

Personal Place Mat : Date Swallow Food Drink Where and when Equipment Protection Communication and choice Risks and help I need Name of person completing mat: If there are any concerns about eating, drinking or swallowing, please refer to Speech and Language Therapy. Some of the clinical signs that can indicate a swallowing difficulty include coughing/choking on food or drink, wet gargly voice, recurrent chest infections, weight loss. Position