Overcoming Eating Challenges in Alzheimer’s Care

Regular, nutritious meals can be challenging for individuals in the middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s. They may feel overwhelmed by too many food choices, forget to eat, or believe they have already eaten. Understanding the underlying causes of poor appetite can help in managing these challenges effectively.

Possible Causes of Poor Appetite

Understanding why an individual may lose their appetite is crucial. Here are some common causes:

• Not recognizing food: The person may not recognize what is on their plate.
• Poor fitting dentures: Painful eating due to ill-fitting dentures requires regular dental visits.
• Medications: New or changed dosages can affect appetite; consult a doctor if changes occur.
• Lack of exercise: Encourage simple activities like walking or gardening to stimulate appetite.
• Decreased sense of smell and taste: Food may not seem as appealing, affecting the desire to eat.

Tips for Overcoming Eating Challenges in Alzheimer’s Care

Maintaining a nutritious diet is vital for overall health. Here are some strategies to make mealtimes more manageable:

Making Mealtimes Calm and Comfortable:

• • Creating a peaceful environment during meals can significantly improve the eating experience.
  • Limit distractions during meals.
  • Keep table settings simple to avoid confusion.
  • Use contrasting colors for plates and tablecloths to help distinguish food.
  • Check food temperature to prevent burns.
  • Serve one or two items at a time to avoid overwhelming choices.
  • Be flexible with food preferences as they may change.
  • Allow plenty of time for meals and make it a social event by eating together.

Encouraging Independence in Alzheimer’s Care:

• • Promoting independence in eating can boost confidence and self-esteem.
  • Adapt utensils and dishes to make eating easier.
  • Serve finger foods like chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and bite-sized fruits and vegetables.
  • Use hand-over-hand feeding if necessary.
  • Don’t worry about neatness; focus on enabling the person to feed themselves.
  • Use non-skid surfaces for dishes and cups with lids to prevent spills.

Minimizing Eating and Nutrition Problems in Alzheimer’s Care:

• • Being proactive about potential eating difficulties can help avoid serious issues like choking and weight loss.
  • Prepare easy-to-chew or swallow foods, such as applesauce and scrambled eggs.
  • Monitor for choking hazards and learn the Heimlich maneuver.
  • Address decreased appetite by serving favorite foods and offering small, frequent meals.
  • Encourage fluid intake with small cups of water or high-water content foods like soups and smoothies.

Maintaining proper nutrition is crucial for the health of individuals with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. By creating a calm eating environment, encouraging independence, and addressing potential eating challenges, caregivers can help ensure their loved ones receive the nourishment they need.

Contact us at (805) 931-4154 for a free consultation to share the challenges you’re facing, and to learn how our personalized home care services can help you.

Home Matters Caregiving proudly serves the San Luis Obispo area providing care for seniors wherever they call home.