Make Mealtimes Easier for People with Alzheimer’s in Miami-Dade

Posted by Scott Cantin in Alzheimer's Disease, home care, Senior Health | 0 comments

Mealtimes can be particularly difficult for people with Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, caregivers may spend more time helping seniors eat, which can affect their housekeeping duties and other tasks. The condition causes cognitive impairment and a decline in sensory perception and coordination, all of which can lead to lost appetite and poor feeding. While there’s no cure for these symptoms, there are steps you can take to make mealtimes easier. At Advancare, we prepare our caregivers to provide full care. Here are the steps we recommend making mealtimes easier for your senior loved one with Alzheimer’s.

Create a Conducive Dining Setting

People with Alzheimer’s disease may have trouble concentrating or focusing. The best way to make them feel more comfortable is by creating a distraction-free environment. Make the eating area quiet and simple by turning off the TV and radio. Avoid placing too many items on the dining table, such as floral arrangements. Keep the lights fairly bright, not too dim or too bright. You can make good use of natural light. Avoid filling their plates with different types of food. Instead, serve one at a time. You can also ask or let them choose.

Make Different Foods Stand Out From the Plate

A person with Alzheimer’s may have difficulty identifying foods or differentiating types of foods. To help them identify foods better, serve them on plates with solid contrasting colors, which makes it easy to identify the food from the background. Plain white plates are great for serving simple, colorful meals like rice, minced meat stew, and a few greens. A Boston University research has found that seniors with Alzheimer’s disease ate more when served meals on red plates.

Test the Food Temperature Before Serving

A person with Alzheimer’s may be unable to detect when their food or drink is too hot or cold. Always check food and beverage temperatures before serving to prevent burns.

Make Mealtime a Social Occasion

 Mealtime should be inherently social. Despite your busy schedule, sit and eat with your senior loved one and enjoy each other’s company. It’s an excellent opportunity to sit down and have a little chat. You can set the mood with a happy and warm tone of voice.

This helps the senior to look forward to mealtimes. Providing company for Alzheimer’s disease patients as they eat offers other additional benefits, including reduced stress and improved overall moods.

Allow Plenty of Time for Eating

People with Alzheimer’s need additional time to eat and finish their meals. They may take as much as an hour or more to finish their plate of food. Avoid rushing them and give the person ample time, support, and space to finish the meal. Encourage them to chew slowly and take their time. You can simplify this by cutting the food into smaller pieces and making it as soft as possible. This helps with chewing and swallowing. Avoid packing their plates with plenty of food, as it may feel overwhelming for a senior.

Need caregiving services in Miami-Dade? Our caregivers at Advancare have the skills and qualifications to care for your senior loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Fill our online contact us form or give us a call on (305) 441-9794 and we will be happy to discuss how to improve your senior loved one’s life.