Helping Seniors with Dementia to Eat Well
Helping Seniors with Dementia to Eat Well
One of the more frustrating aspects of dementia for a family caregiver can be when your elderly loved one gets to the point where she's turning down food more and more often. It's important to handle her refusal to eat the right way so that you can find solutions that work.
Talk to Her Doctor
Your loved one's doctor can narrow down potential reasons for your loved one's refusal to eat. The problems could be related to her health problems, her medication, or even because of other issues, such as depression. Ruling out medical issues can help you to land on a solution for your loved one much more quickly.
Avoid Force Feeding
One tactic you shouldn't use is to try to force your elderly loved one to eat. That can make a loved one, particularly one with dementia, refuse to eat even more vehemently, which is not the result that you want. Instead, follow her doctor's advice and try some other tips that don't involve making your loved one eat.
Serve Smaller Meals Throughout the Day
Smaller meals offered more often through the course of the day can make food more appealing to your loved one. You might also want to try offering finger foods that your loved one can pick up and eat even as she walks by the plate. Finger foods also don't involve using utensils and your loved one can feed herself without needing help from someone else.
Let Your Loved One Choose Her Foods
Family caregivers are often reluctant to let elderly loved ones choose their own foods because the choices may not seem all that healthy. If your loved one is willing to eat, however, it's a good idea to let her eat what she's willing to eat. You can talk to her doctor about what she's eating and whether supplements are a good idea.
Prompt Your Loved One to Chew and to Swallow
Occasionally your loved one might forget that she's in the process of eating. That's when a gentle reminder to chew and then to swallow can help. You don't want your loved one to forget she has food in her mouth and hang onto it because that can become a choking hazard for her later.
Continue working with your loved one's doctor to find solutions that work for her.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Monroe, GA or the surrounding areas, contact the caring staff at Right At Home of East Atlanta. Call today (678) 712-4002.
