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Eating

How dementia affects eating habits and appetite

Ensuring a person with dementia has a healthy, balanced diet can be a challenge for all sorts of reasons. Here’s how to manage the person’s eating habits.

We all know about the benefits of eating a healthy, balanced diet. For many of us, it can be a challenge due to our busy lifestyles. However, a person with dementia can find it difficult to eat healthily for a wide range of reasons. Common barriers to a healthy eating can include things like forgetting to eat, loss of appetite, feeling too tired to finish a meal, confusion when using cutlery and even constipation. 

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The person may also develop an interest in foods they strongly disliked in the past and may experience more sugary cravings, which is thought to be due to diminished taste buds caused by dementia.

However, the more you understand about these issues, the easier it is to address them and ensure that the person with dementia can enjoy healthy, nutritious food to benefit their overall wellbeing.

Why eating can be a problem

  • Depression – a person with dementia may be depressed and find food unappealing. If you suspect the person has depression, it’s worth recommending that they see their GP as soon as possible.

  • Communication problems – in the mid to later stages of dementia, the person may no longer be able to communicate their hunger or tell you that they don’t like certain foods. Try to find out from their loved ones about any foods they like or dislike.

  • Fatigue – if the person is tired, they may struggle to finish a large meal. 

  • Pain – the person may refuse food if they are having dental pain and may be unable to communicate this to you.

  • Constipation – they may be feeling bloated and therefore not interested in food. Encouraging them to drink plenty of water may help, or diluted drinks if they don’t like plain water. If the situation persists, they should see their GP.

  • Lack of exercise – the person may not be very active, and a lack of movement may mean their appetite isn’t good.

Tips to encourage healthy eating 

  • Serve smaller portions – large meals may be too daunting for a person with dementia. Serve smaller portions more frequently so that meals aren’t overwhelming.

  • Indulge the person’s preferences – a person with dementia may experience an increase in cravings for sweet foods such as chocolates or cakes, even if they didn’t have a sweet tooth before. Let them have what they fancy, even if it’s only dessert. 

  • Try to maintain a healthy balance – while a treat can be good for the person’s mood and emotional wellbeing from time to time, try not to let sugary snacks and treats replace healthy meals. 

  • Cut up food if need be – the person may struggle to use cutlery or know what to do with food. Cut up the food on their plate if you think it will help.

  • Make foods softer – if you suspect that the person is struggling to chew, try offering soups, smoothies, milkshakes or softer foods like scrambled eggs. 

  • Avoid distractions – create a peaceful environment during mealtimes. Too many distractions when the person is eating could be off-putting for them. Minimise noise such as the TV or radio, or noise and distractions from others. If the person is distracted, it could be easy for them to forget there is food in front of them.

  • Acknowledge problems recognising food – the person may have good eyesight, but the brain still has to process what we see. This means the person may no longer recognise food in front of them. If they seem unsure, give them gentle guidance.

Monitor food storage

If the person lives alone, it’s possible that food may not be stored correctly. They may not put refrigerated goods in the fridge, or know that certain foods need to go in the freezer. They may also be unaware of use-by dates on food. 

When you visit, check the contents of their cupboards, fridges, and freezers and remove any out-of-date food. 

Be aware of dehydration risk

A person with dementia may no longer realise when they are thirsty or be able to tell you they need a drink. They may also forget to drink. 

Dehydration can cause headaches, confusion, constipation or a urinary tract infection (which in turn can lead to hospital admissions), so it’s hugely important to ensure the person remains hydrated.

  • Leave a jug of water by their bed or chair so they don’t have to get up for a drink. 

  • Serve drinks in beakers to make them easy to hold.

  • Add lemon, lime or orange slices to make water more appealing, or give the person diluted juices or fruit juice if they dislike water.

  • Serve foods with a high water content, like fruits.


Sources:

To find out more about signs of dehydration in elderly people with dementia: https://dementiahelpuk.com/spotting-signs-of-dehydration-in-the-elderly/



BOX:

You can download your free guide to dementia and nutrition from the Dementia Help UK website here: https://dementiahelpuk.com/sign-up-for-your-free-guide-to-dementia-and-nutrition/