Nutritional challenges in dementia care
Encouraging someone to eat and drink sufficiently is one of the ways that a Helping Hands carer can make all the difference to the life of someone living with dementia. It can be difficult for loved ones to be around all of the time to know whether the person is eating and drinking, relying instead on asking them and risking getting an unclear answer.
Variety is the key to increasing food intake. People can eat 50% more if there is variety. Try using these principles with everyday meals: offer a variety of tastes, textures, colours and smells and serve the food on the right crockery and in a comfortable environment. We train our dementia carers to use these methods to great effect.
Caroline Deakin | Our in-house nutritionist
Building a dementia-friendly diet plan
“It’s important to remember that people with dementia don’t need a special diet,” says the Alzheimer’s Society. “There is no evidence that certain foods or supplements slow down or treat dementia.” However, if you are struggling with what types of food to provide for someone who is worried about choking or has difficulty swallowing, consulting with their GP or a dietitian can offer valuable suggestions.