Mealtime Tips for Dementia

 

Mealtimes can be challenging for people with dementia and their caregivers, where slight changes can upset the whole momentum of the meal. According to our experts in care home services in Redditch, it is necessary to maintain a familiar routine, where you serve foods that they have shown affinity to in the past. This will help the patient with dementia to know what to expect of mealtimes and will therefore feel more relaxed and willing to eat more.

According to our caregivers and experts at care home services in Stratford, following are some guidelines that can be adopted for dementia patients, who eat less than they used to, due to loss of interest in food, having problems with swallowing, chewing and digesting food and other factors that adversely affect their appetite.

The Tableware Matters

According to a scientific research at Boston University, dementia patients ate 25% more when they were served food on a red plate. As patients have trouble distinguishing between colors often times, a bright color stimulates their appetites, helping them realize there is food to be eaten.

Make Eating Easier For Them

At some stage of their disease, dementia patients will find it harder to maneuver around cutlery and food. Introduce them to softer foods like puddings or finger foods they can easily eat. Making dietary changes for dementia and introducing easy-to-eat food can help them be comfortable.

Be Patient

It’s always a good idea to sit at the table with the dementia patients, make eye contact, smile at them and do everything in your power to help them feel comfortable. Mealtimes should be family time, where you spend quality time with them. It is essential to maintain patience and not get angry or frustrated as following a routine can be difficult for dementia patients.

Best Foods for Dementia Patients to Eat

Maintaining a healthy meal plan and following dementia nutrition guidelines are necessary for a healthy dementia patient. However, according to our caregivers at the care home services in Droitwich, there are some foods that will go over much easier when trying to feed a dementia patent.

Moreover, there are certain diets that are specifically formulated to improve and strengthen mental strength in dementia patients, such as MIND Diet, also commonly known as Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet, which is rich in vitamin B6, B12, Vitamin K, folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids, with limited complex fats, sugar and salt.

Caregivers should encourage dementia patients to eat more:

·         Green and leafy vegetables

·         Berries

·         Non-starchy vegetables that are lower in calories

·         Nuts

·         Beans

·         Whole grains

·         Poultry and fish

·         Olive oil

These guidelines can help you make mealtimes easier for both yourself and a dementia patient and help them get the nutrition they need for a healthier body and mind.