Tips on... Eating (Early and Middle Stages of Dementia) |
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by Edyth Ann Knox More About Edyth Ann… This caregiving tip
comes in two parts: one for the early and middle stages of dementia and one for the late
stage The eating problems associated with these
stages can be very different, so what works earlier in the disease will not pertain to the
later stage. In
the early to mid stages many things can develop eating problems for the individual
affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. The sense of taste can change leading to a craving
for sweets. But on a more basic level, the individual may have difficulty telling what is
food and what isn't, as well as difficulty in knowing what to do with utensils and even
what to do with the food at hand. 1)
Mark plates and utensils so it is clear that they belong to your loved one: Some
people affected by dementia have great difficulty in knowing which plate is theirs. Even
with a dish in front of them, they may be confused about which plate of food is theirs.
Try using heavy plastic picnic plates that have three compartments, with high sides. You
might also buy matching plastic cups. This may help your loved one to determine which
plate is theirs. 2)
Locate a comfortable place to eat: For a few years we tried eating in the dining
room at the table but my mother-in-law, Milly, was very anxious sitting at the table. She
however would relax and eat very well in the living room. Instead of trying to insist on
her eating where we felt was best, we just went with what Milly felt comfortable.
Eventually we were able to move dinner back to the dinning room table. 3)
Do not allow your loved one to eat alone: Your loved one may eat more food if she
eats with the rest of the family. This actually was good for me as I had a bad habit of
forgetting to feed myself. At least I would have three meals a day if I sat with Milly
while she ate hers. 4)
Encourage healthy snacking: At some point your loved one may develop a taste for
sweets. If the food in front of them is not ice cream and cookies, to them it is not food.
Most caregivers will try to steer away from sweets because of concerns about proper
nutrition. I have found it much easier to let the sweet tooth work for you: bake cookies
with dried fruits and veggies in them. Oatmeal cookies have excellent fiber and you can
add just about anything to an oatmeal cookie to aid in nutrition. Pumpkin and squash can
be used to make a bar cookie that is out of this world. 5)
Enhance foods with spices: You will find that your loved one’s preferences
for specific foods will change. I know my grandma (aged 94 with early stages of
Alzheimer’s Disease) loves her food on the spicy side.
Grandma loves eating raw onions, and spicy hot foods. Milly enjoyed her food better
when I spiced it up and made it flavorful (that does not mean salty). 6)
Control intake of snacks: Place snack foods and finger foods in one area of the
kitchen, so that they are easy to find and you can make sure that the food is nutritious.
Apples, carrots, celery sticks, and popcorn make excellent foods to leave out. 7)
Helping differentiate between food and non-foods: At some point, most people with
dementia will find it difficult to tell what is edible and what isn’t. This may
result in eating artificial or plastic fruits, bar soap, or just about anything that can
be placed in the mouth. Clearly this is potentially very dangerous. Use the same caution
that you would storing dangerous materials as you would with a child. 8)
Assist with handling of utensils: Knives, forks, spoons and cups will become a
problem as the disease progresses. As your loved one loses the ability to use silverware,
provide finger food as much as possible. Some foods however do not lend towards eating
with fingers, so help by spooning it into their mouth. Put their hand on your hand with
the spoon as you fed her. Cups were a big problem because they may forget which end they
are supposed to drink from. Buy some kid cups with a heavy duty built-in straw. 9)
Dealing with hidden foods: As with personal effects, individuals with dementia
may also hide food. Leaving snacks out can become a problem, yet snack foods are still in
demand. Limiting the amount of snack foods left out becomes a better idea. Observe your
loved one’s favorite hiding spots and check them when your loved one is not around.
Then it is simple to remove food and other inappropriate items they have hidden. 10)
Encourage adequate fluid intake: Don’t overlook the importance of fluids. I
don't worry so much about them not eating as I do them not getting adequate fluids. Adding
liquid meal replacements and supplements such as Ensure or an instant breakfast to their
meal is a wonderful way of adding calories as well as fluids, vitamins, and nutrients.
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water yourself! Related Articles Additional Reading Edyth Ann's Caregiving Tips |
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