Are you caring for a loved one with dementia?
If so, you aren’t alone. Over 50 million people worldwide are currently living with this challenging condition. And, in most cases, their care is overseen by a close family member.
The symptoms of dementia can include severe memory loss and poor judgment, impacting every aspect of life, including mealtime. In this article, we’ll share our top tips for meal preparation, plus some of the top food for dementia patients. That way, you can ensure your loved one is getting the nutrition they need.
Keep reading for all the information!
Explore: Senior Home Care Services
Set the Mood
When it comes to caring for someone with dementia, setting the table can be just as essential as meal prep.
Because people with dementia are often confused and overwhelmed, you’ll want to keep mealtime simple and distraction-free. Skip out on centerpieces, extra silverware, and anything else on the table that might draw attention away from the meal.
Instead, offer one or two foods at a time with a simple presentation. This may help to increase focus and the amount of food consumed.
You should also avoid audio distractions like televisions and music, distracting conversations, and windows. Adding positive cues like the sound of opening containers and taking of lids can also help your loved one get in the mood for a meal.
Lastly, serving finger foods like bite-sized sandwiches, cheese and crackers, or sliced fruits and vegetables can encourage independence during mealtime. Because you won’t have to worry about silverware, the focus can remain solely on the food!
Keep an Eye Out
You can gain valuable insight into your loved one’s food preferences and mealtime concerns, just by watching them eat.
Because people living with dementia often struggle to express their preferences, watching which foods they choose can help you better plan and prepare for future meals. You might also notice that they prefer specific plates, cups, or cutlery. Or, enjoy their meal more when they don’t have to navigate tools like straws and silverware.
Mealtime observation is also a good opportunity to watch for signs and symptoms of dysphagia, or trouble swallowing. Keep an eye out for coughing, choking, or food and drinks spilling out of the mouth. These could all be indications that your loved one requires a swallow evaluation.
Dysphagia is a dangerous medical condition that may require additional care. If your loved one is struggling to swallow, it might be time for professional help. Senior care service providers are familiar with the symptoms and treatment of dysphagia and can help you and your loved one cope.
Go With the Flow
For someone living with dementia, meals can be messy and time-consuming. This is normal.
Your loved one may suddenly change their food preferences, insist that they have eaten when they have not, or refuse to eat outright. Try to stay patient, and make the most of whatever mealtime goals you are able to accomplish.
You might find it helpful to offer multiple small meals or snacks to boost overall food intake. Or, come prepared with a bit of patience, as the process might take longer than what you’re used to.
Lastly, if a meal gets messy, try to stay calm. This is a normal, though uncomfortable, part of life with dementia. And, losing your cool won’t speed the situation up!
Plan and Prepare
Meal prep is a great way to stay organized and ensure that your loved one has fresh and nutritious food available at every meal. You might want to plan or prepare multiple days of food ahead of time, to make serving your loved one faster and more convenient.
This can also help with cycling through multiple food options during a meal, offering extra variety without additional effort. And, getting into a regular meal prep routine can make it easier to ensure balanced nutrition with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains, on offer.
If you don’t have time in your schedule for regular meal prep, an at-home caregiver might be able to help. They are trained in a variety of home care capacities, including nutrition and assistance with feeding.
And, don’t forget to keep food easy to eat as you’re prepping it. Avoid large bites, perfectly round foods, and anything else that could become a choking hazard.
The Best Food for Dementia
The best foods for dementia patients are often the simplest to serve and consume. Focus on easy to eat options that are appealing and vary from meal to meal. And, keep the nutritional requirements of an older adult in mind.
For example, older adults require more calcium and vitamin D than children and young adults. So, they should be offered three servings of low-fat dairy per day.
Other healthy foods for dementia patients include brain-boosting dark leafy greens and omega-3 rich options like salmon and eggs. Other brain food for dementia includes beans, nuts, and whole grains.
Because preparing food for dementia patients can be such a challenge, it may be tempting to offer calorie-dense snacks and junk food. But, these unhealthy options might leave your loved one feeling drained, sick to their stomach, or even exhausted from the common sugar crash associated with sweets.
Offering empty calories throughout the day can also impact mealtime, with your loved one feeling little to no appetite when it’s time to sit down at the table. So, when possible, it’s best to avoid them altogether. Simply swap out these unhealthy options with cut fruit and vegetables, or less indulgent treats from the junk food aisle.
Getting Started
Now that you know a bit more about how to plan and prepare meals, plus the best food for dementia, you’re probably looking forward to making some changes to your routine. Feel free to use this article as your guide!
Remember, people living with dementia will find slow and steady changes easier to adapt to than sudden upsets to their schedule or routine. Start with a few of these tips, and incorporate the others once your loved one has had a chance to adjust.
And, don’t get frustrated if it takes a few tries to make a change. Slow progress is a part of living with dementia. But you can do it!
Do you need further assistance with home healthcare? Contact us today for personalized assistance with your specific situation. We’re happy to help, with no obligation to commit to our services.
Food for Dementia
