When you’re a caregiver to someone with dementia, mealtime can be a chore … and sometimes, a struggle. There are a lot of factors to consider: your loved one’s abilities, their food preferences, your time, the ease of cooking … it’s tempting to just throw something together at the last minute and call it done, but you know that’s not a good solution. How can you keep mealtime from being a bore and make it more creative, fulfilling and fun?
“A healthy, balanced diet is incredibly important for your loved one with dementia because it’s the best way for them to ingest nutrients that will feed their brains, keep their bodies healthy and improve their quality of life,” says Trish McKay, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull, a memory care assisted living community in Trumbull, CT. The trick is, she says, to serve flavorful foods in an appealing way.
Healthy Foods for Those with Dementia
What does a healthy diet look like for someone with dementia? Well, a lot like a healthy diet for all of us. Lots of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, healthy fats and whole grains are on the menu, along with some rock-star standouts like:
- Leafy greens such as kale, Swiss chard and spinach (full of folate, which fights depression, and Vitamin E, which has positive effects on the brain)
- Cruciferous vegetables like brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli and bok choy (which contain nutrients that lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to cognitive impairment)
- Legumes, which are filled with potassium, iron, folate and magnesium
- Antioxidant-packed berries that protect your brain from damage caused by free radicals, radiation and inflammation
- Dark chocolate – the antioxidant flavanol helps improve blood flow to the brain
- Omega-3 rich fish with fatty acids that keep the brain as healthy as possible
- Nuts and seeds, which have tons of nutrients as well as healthy fats
- Spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and sage, which add antioxidants and memory-boosting compounds
Tasty Recipes for Those with Dementia
Thanks to the Internet, healthy and tasty foods that are also good for brain health are just a few clicks away. Here are some great sites with delicious recipes:
- A Caregiver’s Guide: Maximizing Mealtime for People with Dementia
- Brain-Boosting Dinner Recipes
- Food for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- The Alzheimer’s Prevention Cookbook (Amazon purchase)
Enhancing the Dining Experience for Your Loved One
The dining experience is often enjoyable for many of us. However, during the mid to late stages of dementia, dining can be difficult, confusing and unenjoyable for your loved one for a variety of reasons. Here are some things you can do to make dining a pleasurable experience.
- Keep distractions to a minimum. Serve meals in quiet and calm surroundings that are removed from noises or other distractions. Turn the television and radio off, and try to keep foot traffic low during the meal.
- Don’t go all-out on decorating. While a lovely centerpiece makes a wonderful visual statement, it can distract or confuse your loved one. It can even be dangerous, if your loved one could potentially confuse the decor for food (like plastic fruit). Keep settings simple and put out only utensils that are needed for that meal.
- Make it easy to see all the components. Dementia can cause difficulty in spatial and visual abilities, and your loved one may have a hard time figuring out what’s food, what’s the plate and what’s the table. Contrasting colors can help your loved one better recognize what’s what and eat more easily. Avoid patterns, which can confuse them further.
- Serve things one at a time. Too many different foods at once can be overwhelming. Serve one thing at a time and keep plates from becoming overcrowded.
- Make sure the food is at a good temperature. People with dementia can’t always tell if something is too hot to ingest. Before serving, be sure to test the temperature of everything you’re putting in front of your loved one.
- Eat together. Mealtimes are more enjoyable when they’re social experiences, and research shows that people make better choices and eat more when they’re with others.
Tips for Improving Your Loved One’s Appetite
It’s common for people with dementia to lose their appetite or have eating problems. This can lead to malnutrition, which increases the risk of health issues and sickness. It’s important for caregivers to watch their loved ones’ appetites and eating habits in order to make sure they’re providing the right nutritional balance. Here are some tips:
- Stick to nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods. Eating a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins will help your loved one stay healthy and feel good. Avoid overly processed food and foods that are high in sodium or fat. A variety of food is good to keep your loved one’s interest in eating.
- Watch for signs that your loved one is having difficulty eating. Eating may be painful due to ill-fitting dentures or other mouth issues. Food that is hard to chew or not cut up enough can be a choking hazard. Your loved one’s appetite may decrease after the introduction of a new medication, or not being able to smell foods as well as they once did. Ask your loved one’s doctor if you have concerns and for recommendations.
- Get enough exercise. Physical activity will increase your loved one’s metabolism, help them burn calories and increase their appetite. It’s much more enjoyable to eat when you’re hungry, after all.
Dedicated Memory Care
Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull delivers highly specialized memory care assisted living for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our resident-centered approach focuses on providing dignity, purpose and moments of joy in daily life for those in all stages of the disease. We offer a wellness-focused lifestyle that centers around a resident’s current skills and abilities, not those that have been lost to dementia.
Life-Enriching Programs
Our team members take an active role in getting to know each resident on a personal level to deliver programming that is meaningful to them. We account for the preferences, interests, needs and abilities of our residents to connect with them and encourage their involvement in daily life and boost self-esteem.
Warm, Residential Atmosphere
Featuring a stunning residential design, every inch of our community has been designed to benefit those with memory loss. Attributes such as soft colors, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life stations create a soothing and secure environment where residents feel comfortable, safe and at home.
Contact us today to learn more.