Helping a person with dementia to maintain a healthy diet can be difficult
for the people caring for them. This leaflet aims to provide some positive
tips on ways to help | Dementia UK
People with dementia may experience problems with eating and drinking.
There are many reasons this might happen. They might:
- forget to eat
- experience difficulties preparing food
- have difficulty recognising food items
- have a change in appetite or taste
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is important for a person’s physical and mental health. Not eating and drinking enough can increase the risk of dehydration, weight loss, a urinary tract infection and constipation. These health problems can be particularly problematic for someone with dementia as they can increase confusion and the risks of delirium, and sometimes make the symptoms of dementia worse.
This leaflet from Dementia UK provides useful tips on the following:
- Setting the scene for mealtimes
- Encouraging a person with dementia to eat
- Encouraging a person with dementia to drink
- Stocking up and storing food
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Swallowing
Full resource: Eating and drinking: Staying well with dementia
Related: ‘Eating and Drinking Well: Supporting People Living with Dementia’ |Bournemouth University
