nutrition > caring-for-someone-with-dementia

for is losing weight but is not at this advanced stage, consult your GP. If they are very restless and physically agitated they may be using more energy than the calories they are consuming, or there may be a medical problem.

Appetite loss in those living alone – If the person is living on their own, you may find that they are not eating any food that you have provided, or they may start hiding food. Meals on wheels may no longer be helpful because they forget to eat the meal delivered. These are signs that the person needs more help. It is possible to arrange for home carers to visit the person at mealtimes and either prepare a meal for them, or stay with them while they eat. Contact your local social services department for more information.

Overeating

Sometimes a person with dementia may eat more food than they need. This can be due to changes in the brain caused by the condition, and is often only a temporary phase. In some cases, overeating is explained by memory loss. The person may completely forget that they have eaten – even if they have just done so. If a person is eating excessive amounts, try to limit their food intake to prevent them from feeling uncomfortable after eating or becoming overweight.

Sometimes a person with dementia will feel compelled to search out and consume any type of food. Apart from the problems associated with overeating, this type of behaviour can cause the person to eat or drink unsuitable, or even dangerous, substances.

If you are trying to help prevent someone from overeating, try the following suggestions:

Put anything that you don’t want the person to consume out of sight or out of reach.
Try to distract their attention or find a satisfying activity as a substitute for eating.
If the person constantly seeks out food, try to provide healthy snacks such as fruit, crackers or raw vegetables.

During the later stages of dementia, some people develop a taste for specific foods. Foods with strong flavours are surprisingly popular at this stage. This is due to the physical damage to the brain and is not harmful. So long as it’s healthy, try to give the person the food they want to eat.

If you are worried about the nutrition of the person you are caring for, talk to your GP, who may decide to prescribe vitamins or other dietary supplements.

A healthy diet

It is important to encourage the person to eat a balanced diet. If they are lacking certain essential nutrients, they may become ill or more confused. The government guidelines for a healthy diet are:

Enjoy your food.
Eat a variety of foods.
Eat the right amount to be a healthy weight.
Eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre.
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day).
Don’t eat too many foods that contain a lot of fat.
Don’t have sugary foods and drinks too often.
Don’t eat too many foods high in salt, and cut down on the amount of salt added in cooking and at the table.

Tips for helping a person with dementia to eat well

Don’t feel you need to prepare elaborate meals – it is probably better to devote your energy to ensuring that the person eats and enjoys their food.
If the person is restless or has a poor appetite, they may find frequent small meals or nutritious snacks more tempting than large meals.
Dementia affects people’s sense of taste. You may need to offer sauces or seasoning that the person did not use before. However, make sure that the person does not use seasonings such as salt or chilli excessively.
Make sure that food and drinks are not too hot to serve – people with dementia may lose the ability to judge temperature.
Encourage the person to drink enough liquid each day. Too little liquid can lead to dehydration, which can make the person more confused. A rough guide is at least eight cups of liquid a day.

(published with permission in writing from:https://www.alzheimers.org.uk)