We all know how important it is to eat right. Most of us remember the Food Pyramid we learned in elementary school, along with the importance of eating from the 5 food groups every day. It sounds good but it isn’t always easy when you’re a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient.
A variety of things can cause eating problems for the person suffering with a dementing illness. Some problems are a direct result of memory-loss but others can be caused by personality and behavioral changes in the person with a dementing illness.
You can expect to see changes in the Alzheimers or Dementia patient’s eating habits as their disease progresses. If they were a “picky eater” before, they may become obstinate about their preferences later. When a person becomes ill with Dementia, they are no longer able to work toward an agreeable resolution but are more likely to insist on their own way. So meal times can become fraught with disruptive behavior and arguments over food choices. It is best to have a calm and peaceful atmosphere at meal times, with as little stimulation as possible. So whatever causes the least resistance is the best solution. If a food choice they want has the same nutritional value as the one you’ve prepared, it might be easier to change the menu.
The key is to find healthy alternatives so a simple eating problem doesn’t escalate into a full-blown war. Eating cheesecake three times a day is not a good idea, so a healthy substitute will need to be found. Always strive to find an acceptable solution or substitute instead of shouting angry words or accusations.
Hoarding food away for later can also be a problem. If the patient insists on hoarding food for later snacks, allow fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, etc. , rather than cakes or cookies or other sweets. Frequent smaller meals with snacks in-between may be wiser than single large meals with extended periods between meals.
The Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient who still lives alone with only temporary supervision, may have forgotten how to cook. In that case, you may need other arrangements for their daily meals.
Many Restaurants deliver meals on a daily basis, though that could be an expensive alternative. Meals on Wheels also provides delivered meals along with set-up for the patient. Some families choose Frozen dinners for easy Microwave cooking by the Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient. These meals can be high in salt and calories, however, so the ingredient panels should be checked thoroughly. Something to remember is that by middle-stage Dementia or Alzheimer’s, most people are no longer able to use the number pad on a Microwave.
An Alzheimer’s or Dementia sufferer who lives alone would also do well to take Vitamins and Supplements to ensure a healthy diet. When my Mom still lived alone, I always kept a supply of “Ensure” or other nutritional drinks in her refrigerator. It’s better as a snack than cookies, candies or sweets, and would suffice as a meal substitute on occasion, if needed.
Often, the person with Alzheimer’s and Dementia doesn’t remember when they last ate a meal. Instead they might assume they’ve already eaten, then decide not to eat at all. That was the problem I had with my own Mom. She always assumed that she had already eaten and would skip every meal. Since she was living alone and had not been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimers, we never suspected hunger as the driving force behind her constant severe stomach pains. There were numerous trips to the Emergency Room before we learned that Mom’s problem was hunger.
This same scenario can also work in reverse. Some patients want to eat all the time but never remember a single meal. In this case it might be helpful to keep healthy finger-foods available for snacks; carrots, celery sticks, strawberries, grapes. Try to keep snacks limited to fruits and vegetables to prevent excessive weight gain for the patient who wants to eat continually.
Some older folks have dentures that no longer fit. This makes it difficult for them to chew properly. Their dentures should be assessed for an adjustment, if possible. If the patient refuses to wear their dentures, be extra careful to provide soft foods that digest well without lots of chewing. If they need dentures but refuse to wear them, you might need to watch for problems with choking, as they may be swallowing chunks of food that are too large to swallow safely.
In later stages of Alzheimer’s and Dementia the patient
may no longer be able to eat due to severe choking issues. Those may be caused by
Apraxia. (The brain’s message to chew is no longer sent/or connected and the patient can no longer chew. ) In this final stage of Alzheimer’s the patient is unable to chew and
tube-feeding will become necessary.
If you’re the caregiver for an Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient with eating problems, it is common for the patient to show little interest in food since they are no longer guided by hunger alone. As the caregiver you can only do your best. Serve healthy and nutritious meals and snacks and encourage your patient to eat well at meal times.
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A variety of things can cause eating problems for the person suffering with a dementing illness. Some problems are a direct result of memory-loss but others can be caused by personality and behavioral changes in the person with a dementing illness.
You can expect to see changes in the Alzheimers or Dementia patient’s eating habits as their disease progresses. If they were a “picky eater” before, they may become obstinate about their preferences later. When a person becomes ill with Dementia, they are no longer able to work toward an agreeable resolution but are more likely to insist on their own way. So meal times can become fraught with disruptive behavior and arguments over food choices. It is best to have a calm and peaceful atmosphere at meal times, with as little stimulation as possible. So whatever causes the least resistance is the best solution. If a food choice they want has the same nutritional value as the one you’ve prepared, it might be easier to change the menu.
The key is to find healthy alternatives so a simple eating problem doesn’t escalate into a full-blown war. Eating cheesecake three times a day is not a good idea, so a healthy substitute will need to be found. Always strive to find an acceptable solution or substitute instead of shouting angry words or accusations.
Hoarding food away for later can also be a problem. If the patient insists on hoarding food for later snacks, allow fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, etc. , rather than cakes or cookies or other sweets. Frequent smaller meals with snacks in-between may be wiser than single large meals with extended periods between meals.
The Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient who still lives alone with only temporary supervision, may have forgotten how to cook. In that case, you may need other arrangements for their daily meals.
Many Restaurants deliver meals on a daily basis, though that could be an expensive alternative. Meals on Wheels also provides delivered meals along with set-up for the patient. Some families choose Frozen dinners for easy Microwave cooking by the Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient. These meals can be high in salt and calories, however, so the ingredient panels should be checked thoroughly. Something to remember is that by middle-stage Dementia or Alzheimer’s, most people are no longer able to use the number pad on a Microwave.
An Alzheimer’s or Dementia sufferer who lives alone would also do well to take Vitamins and Supplements to ensure a healthy diet. When my Mom still lived alone, I always kept a supply of “Ensure” or other nutritional drinks in her refrigerator. It’s better as a snack than cookies, candies or sweets, and would suffice as a meal substitute on occasion, if needed.
Often, the person with Alzheimer’s and Dementia doesn’t remember when they last ate a meal. Instead they might assume they’ve already eaten, then decide not to eat at all. That was the problem I had with my own Mom. She always assumed that she had already eaten and would skip every meal. Since she was living alone and had not been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimers, we never suspected hunger as the driving force behind her constant severe stomach pains. There were numerous trips to the Emergency Room before we learned that Mom’s problem was hunger.
This same scenario can also work in reverse. Some patients want to eat all the time but never remember a single meal. In this case it might be helpful to keep healthy finger-foods available for snacks; carrots, celery sticks, strawberries, grapes. Try to keep snacks limited to fruits and vegetables to prevent excessive weight gain for the patient who wants to eat continually.
Some older folks have dentures that no longer fit. This makes it difficult for them to chew properly. Their dentures should be assessed for an adjustment, if possible. If the patient refuses to wear their dentures, be extra careful to provide soft foods that digest well without lots of chewing. If they need dentures but refuse to wear them, you might need to watch for problems with choking, as they may be swallowing chunks of food that are too large to swallow safely.
In later stages of Alzheimer’s and Dementia the patient may no longer be able to eat due to severe choking issues. Those may be caused by Apraxia. (The brain’s message to chew is no longer sent/or connected and the patient can no longer chew. ) In this final stage of Alzheimer’s the patient is unable to chew and tube-feeding will become necessary.If you’re the caregiver for an Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient with eating problems, it is common for the patient to show little interest in food since they are no longer guided by hunger alone. As the caregiver you can only do your best. Serve healthy and nutritious meals and snacks and encourage your patient to eat well at meal times.