Personal Place Mat Name Date

1
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.

2
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


589-593 Crumlin Road

Belfast BT14 7GB

Telephone [phone]

E-mail
angela.crocker_at_nwb.n-i.nhs.uk References


Murphy J. (1998) Talking Mats
http//www.talkingmats.com/
Picture Communication Symbols
(PCS) http//www.mayer-johnson.com/ Millar, S.
Aitken, S. (2003) Personal Communication
Passports guidelines for good practice CALL
Centre, www.callcentrescotland.org.uk
3
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 persons 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 persons
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Guidance continuedPosition

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 persons
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.
7
Example and Template to make your own Personal
Placemat

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

8
Personal Place MatAngela Crocker 1st August
2006
example
Hi my name is Angela
I have all drinks thickened to a puree
consistency. This is my spoon.
9
Personal Place Mat Angela Crocker 1st August
2006
example
Name of person completing mat Chris Nibb
Swallow I have swallowing difficulties. Please
read the Speech and Language Therapy report date
15.07.06.
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.
Position It is important that I eat in my
wheelchair in an upright position.
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,
dont 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.
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.
10
Personal Place MatName
Date
11
Personal Place Mat Date
Name of person completing mat
Swallow
Food
Drink
Where and when
Position
Equipment
Protection
Communication and choice
Risks and help I need
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.