Feeding Tips for Alzheimer's and Dementia:
My grandmother passed away due to Alzheimer’s. I was her
caregiver for the last five years of her life and I was able to witness the
progression of the disease and I know how emotionally and physically draining
it can be. It is so important to have a good family support system but to also
know when to ask for help to eliminate some of the caregiving burnout. Meal
time can be one of the most frustrating and difficult times for those with
Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing some proper feeding techniques and tricks could
help make this process a lot easier for you and your loved one.
The Hand over Hand Technique:
Place your loved one’s hand over your hand as you are
guiding the spoon to their mouth. Vision loss and impairment is very common in
those with dementia and this helps them to feel the spoon coming and to know
when to open their mouth. You can also use this technique to help them with
bathing, brushing their teeth, walking, etc. It will help them to be more
involved in their daily routine and more comfortable if you allow them to feel
what you are doing.
Choosing proper textures:
Along with chewing, swallowing becomes increasingly
difficult as the Alzheimer’s becomes more advanced. It is important to be
attentive and to know what textures are easy for them to handle and always note
any changes in eating behavior. In the last stages of my grandmother’s life she
would eat very little. She had an extremely hard time swallowing so we would
look for ways to give her more calories without the food being too thick for
her to swallow. We would serve her Greek yogurt as it is high in protein and thin
up the texture by adding apple juice or ensure to help it go down easier. We
also would add rice cereal to the yogurt to help add more calories. Pureed
foods and smoothies are another great way to help create easy to swallow foods.
However, they may prefer mashed, or chopped. Be creative and learn what works
best for the individual as it will change over time.
Keep track of how
much they are eating as some medications may change desires in appetites. It is
common for those with Alzheimer’s to eat less and less until they are at the
point of eating very little as the disease progresses, and this is not a
painful way to die. However, always note changes in appetite and weight and
consult with their doctor or nurse to help address any concerns.
Keep It Simple:
In order to help avoid confusion, serve food one item at a
time on a plain colored plate. Patterns may get confused with food. The color
red has also been linked to increasing appetite, so a plain, red plate may be
your best way to go. Place foods directly in front of them and keep it in their
direct line of sight. Tunnel vision is common in those with dementia and bringing
something to their mouth from the side may startle them. It is also a good
practice to be in their direct line of sight when you first come to them
instead of coming in from the side.
The best thing to do in working with those with dementia is
to be loving, patient and supportive. Try visuals to help communicate. Avoid
asking questions and avoid negative words such as “don’t.” Go through picture
albums of when they were younger. Try listening to music. My grandmother
remembered tunes and words to songs long after she lost the ability to speak. It
is not easy to watch the progression of the disease but it is important to keep
trying and learning new ways of adapting to changes. Let me know in the comments below what you have found that works for you.
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