Previously submitted to: JMIR Formative Research (no longer under consideration since Mar 18, 2026)
Date Submitted: Apr 14, 2025
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
A Feasibility and Acceptability Study of Virtually Sharing a Meal over Video Chat while Aging-in-Place
ABSTRACT
Background:
Using video chat to eat commensally, i.e. VideoDining, may address eating alone and loneliness, risk factors for malnutrition.
Objective:
We conducted a mixed-methods feasibility and acceptability study to determine if adults aging-in-place could independently VideoDine.
Methods:
We recruited older adults in collaboration with the Office for Aging in a rural community. Participants were asked to use an Amazon EchoShow to VideoDine with family or friends once a week for four weeks.
Results:
Participants (n=11) were a mean age of 88 and 91% female. Eight participants (73%) VideoDined at least twice. Sessions occurred primarily in the evening (16/25) for an average of 35 minutes. Most participants enjoyed VideoDining and rated sessions easy and comfortable. Facilitators to VideoDining included easy-to-prepare meals and challenges were identifying a partner and scheduling. Office for Aging administrators reported continued use of VideoDining one year later.
Conclusions:
VideoDining once a week was feasible and acceptable for older adults aging-in-place.
Citation
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