Helpful Ways To Make Mealtimes Easier for People Affected by Dementia

Introduction

As dementia is a progressive condition, it can make some daily activities that most people would consider basic and easy more difficult for those who are affected, such as eating a meal. This is due to the fact that dementia affects the cognitive abilities of an individual making it hard to remember how to do certain things, and as a result of this their family and caregivers may find it a struggle to help their loved one during mealtimes. We have provided helpful ways below to make mealtimes easier for you and your loved one.

Simplify Meals

By simplifying the weekly menu, you are making mealtimes easier for individuals with dementia as complex dishes with a number of different ingredients can be overwhelming and confusing, making it difficult for them to identify what they are eating. It is better to stick to familiar and simple dishes that are easy to identify and eat. For instance, serving 3 individual items on a plate consisting of a protein, carb and vegetable is much easier to comprehend than a pasta dish with multiple ingredients. Bite size finger foods that are easy to pick up are a great option which are also a good choice for snacks, things like fish fingers, chicken nuggets and small sandwiches, that they are able to feed themselves.

Stick to a Routine

Someone with dementia relies strongly on a routine. Having a routine in place for mealtimes is vital as it creates a sense of familiarity and helps to make them feel more comfortable at mealtimes. This routine can include the time of day that a meal is served, such as Breakfast at 8am, the type of meal that is served and the location you eat the meal. Routine helps to eliminate any anxiety or confusion by giving them an idea of what to expect during mealtimes.

Visual Cues

Visual cues can be a helpful way to guide your loved one during mealtimes. Using colourful plates can make it easier to see the food and distinguish between the food and plate, use plain rather than ones with patterns on them. Dark blue plates may be a good option as this is a contrasting colour to most foods. If your loved one is overwhelmed with large portions make sure to serve them smaller portions of food on a smaller plate. You could try switching to 5 smaller meals a day. Also avoid patterned placemats and tablecloths, use a contrasting tablecloth from your dishes. Consider a plastic tablecloth for easier clean up.

Offer Assistance When Needed

It is important to offer assistance to your loved one during a mealtime if they need it, for example, helping them with cutting their food and pouring them a drink. Also make sure to provide them with plenty of time to finish their meal at their own pace to avoid feelings of frustration and anxiety. It is also wise to be mindful if your loved one has any physical limitations, and adjust the meal accordingly, this could include providing them with cutlery that is easier to hold.

Create a Calm Environment

You should try to create a calm and quiet environment for mealtimes as loud noises can be overwhelming for individuals with dementia and may cause them anxiety and to become agitated. It is best to minimise these distractions, keep the television off and close the curtains at mealtimes, try not to talk to them too much and let them concentrate on their meals as this can also be distracting for them.  

Monitor Fluid levels

Individuals with dementia may forget to drink during mealtimes, which is why it is important to monitor their fluid intake and encourage them to drink throughout the day as well as mealtimes as they may not realize when they are thirsty. Make sure to offer additional drinks as dehydration can cause a lack of appetite. Serve drinks in easy to grip cups.

Conclusion

Making mealtimes easier for your loved one with dementia does require a combination of patience and flexibility. By simplifying meals, sticking to a routine, providing visual cues, offering assistance, creating a calm environment and monitoring fluid intake you can make it not only possible for your mealtimes to be easier but also enjoyable for you and your loved one.