Dementia Care Nutrition Tips

With the progression of dementia, Alzheimer’s or other related conditions, seniors’ abilities change. It is important that those who provide dementia care in California understand the senior’s needs and capabilities so as to care for them in the best possible way.

Dementia Care for Seniors in the Middle Stages of Their Disease

As seniors progress into the middle stages of dementia, the most important goal for caregivers is to make sure the senior maintains a healthy body weight, keeps good hydration habits and eats a diet containing healthy nutrients.

There are a few behaviors that seniors with dementia tend to adopt. Understanding those behaviors and their possible negative implications can help caregivers provide adequate and compassionate dementia care.

The most common behavior is that seniors will forget to eat and drink at appropriate times. Even if they receive a meal-delivery service, the senior may never even open the meal, letting it spoil on the counter. A caregiver should check for unopened or uneaten food, as well as check the sink for used dishes and silverware which gives a good indication of how many meals the senior has eaten. If skipping meals becomes an issue, it may be a good idea to make sure someone is there to supervise the senior during mealtime, helping them remember to eat and making sure they are eating enough.

Another difficulty that seniors with dementia face is that they forget how to use utensils or they  do not recognize utensils and their function. This can cause them to become frustrated. Caregivers need to try to create an environment that is similar to the senior’s past eating routines. This helps them remember how to eat properly and also helps them feel relaxed while eating.

Thirdly, seniors may take leftover food to their rooms or save food in their pockets and then eat that food much later, not realizing that it has become unsanitary and unsafe for eating. Additionally, seniors may consume non-food items, confusing those items for food. Caregivers providing dementia care should regularly search for old and unsafe foods in seniors’ bedrooms and clothes pockets, and they should also remove any non-food items from plain sight to prevent the senior from accidentally eating something that could harm them.

By staying aware of potential problems and working to provide compassionate dementia care throughout West Hollywood, West Covina, San Gabriel, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Altadena and neighboring California communities, caregivers can help seniors stay healthy as they live independently in their own homes.