Mealtime Partners, Inc.

Specializing in Assistive Dining and Drinking Equipment

December 2012 Independent Eating and Drinking Newsletter

Independent Eating...   is a Wonderful Thing

December Topics:

  • Introducing the RiJe Cup

  • Happy Holidays

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Introducing the RiJe Cup

Mealtime Partners specializes in providing products that allow individuals who are not able to eat and/or drink independently to gain self-sufficiency in those activities. The company offers a selection of unique products to meet the needs of people who are unable to use their hands to drink or who have swallowing difficulties. This month Mealtime Partners is introducing the RiJe cup. This cup has been added to our line of drinking products because it offers features that have not been available until now.

RiJe Cup
The RiJe Cup (Green)

The RiJe cup is designed for individuals who have swallowing difficulties, known as, dysphagia. Dysphagia can be caused by anatomical problems (blockages or obstructions), and/or functional abnormalities caused by malfunctioning nerves of the brain, throat or esophagus. Some diseases of the brain that affect neurological control are: stroke, amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. Also, diseases and conditions that affect muscle function or connective tissue throughout the body can cause dysphagia. Examples include: muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Regardless of the cause, those who have swallowing disorders are advised to modify how they drink thin liquids to avoid choking or aspiration.

Considerable clinical research has been conducted into the method and volume that is most appropriate to facilitate a safe swallow. Most research indicates that a large population of people can take a volume of 5cc of thin liquid into the mouth at one time, and swallowed it without difficulty. A pause should follow each swallow. To advance this strategy Mealtime Partners has made the Provale cup (dispensing 5cc) available for several years, and will continue to do so. The Provale cup is appropriate for those whose condition is unlikely to change and for whom 5cc of liquid is appropriate. However, there are a significant number of people who have a changing condition and for whom liquid volume will, over time, change. This is the reason Mealtime Partners has added the RiJe cup to its product line.

The RiJe cup is flexible in the volume of liquid it can dispense. It is able to dispense as little as 3cc, and up to 15cc. This capability in a single cup, allows those who, when they first develop a swallowing disorder, can only intake very small volumes of liquid at one time, and who gradually improve due to treatment or improvement of disease, to gradually increase the amount of liquid per swallow. The adjustment to the quantity of liquid that the cup will dispense is accomplished using a key that is provided with it. The key has two scales to set the amount of liquid to be dispensed: milliliters and tea spoons. It should be noted that a milliliters (ml) and a cubic centimeter (cc) are equal quantities.

Another unique feature of the RiJe cup is that the user can drink either straight from the cup by lifting it to their lips or they can use a straw. (The Provale cup does not work with a straw). Even when drinking through a straw the volume of liquid available to the user is controlled. Therefore, if the cup is set to dispense 8cc’s of water, the cup will meter out 8cc whether the liquid is drunk straight from the cup or from a straw. Once the liquid has been removed, the cup replenishes the next portion of liquid in 2 to 3 seconds. Consequently the user is unable to get more liquid immediately upon drinking the available portion and this creates a natural pause between swallows.

Both thin liquids, like water, and thickened liquids, can be used in the RiJe cup. It is able to dispense liquids that are nectar thick (approximately the viscosity of maple syrup). Additionally, hot or cold liquids can be served from it and it can be washed in a dishwasher or by hand. As can be seen in the above picture, it is non-medical in appearance, and has sturdy ergonomically designed handles that are easy to grip. It comes in four colors: green, red, blue and aquamarine.

Additional links to assembly instructions and videos of using and assembling the cup can be found at our website by clicking on: the RiJe Cup. Click the following link to learn about all Mealtime Partners Drinking Products.

 

INDEPENDENT EATING... IS A WONDERFUL THING
Imagine sitting down to your holiday dinner with family and friends. Last year one of your loved ones needed to be fed, but this year they can eat independently because they have a Mealtime Partner Dining System. With this system people are able to eat independently, at the pace that they choose; and they do not have to wait to be fed. They have autonomy with the rest of the people at the dining table! What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays. Click the following link to learn more about how to gain mealtime independence for those who cannot feed themselves.
The Mealtime Partners Dining System
The Mealtime Partner Dining System is quick and easy to learn and has no complicated programming requirements. Each Dining System comes with a complete training video on DVD so new users and caregivers can learn to use it in just a few minutes. To view a list of the instructional videos that may be selected by title, click here.

Happy Holidays

Holiday Picture
Happy Holidays

Mealtime Partners would like to wish all of our readers Happy Holidays.

We appreciate your support and would like to send our best wishes to you and your families.

We hope that you have a wonderful holiday and manage to relax a little as well as enjoying all of the festivities.

May 2013 be a wonderful year for all of us.

Did You Know? Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eighteen million courses of antibiotics are prescribed for the common cold in the United States per year. Research shows that colds are caused by viruses, which are not affected by antibiotics. Fifty million unnecessary antibiotics are prescribed for viral respiratory infections.






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