Nutrition and Dementia – How Can I Help Optimise My Nutrition?

For individuals living with dementia, basic tasks such as eating can become increasingly challenging due to physical, emotional, and behavioral changes. Below are some common issues and practical tips to assist in optimizing nutrition for yourself or your loved ones:

Memory-Related Challenges: Forgetting to Eat and Drink

Strategies to Help Remember:

• Set Reminders: Use alarms, phone calls, or visits from friends and family as reminders to eat. Sticky notes throughout the house can also serve as visual cues.
• Organize in Advance: Plan personalized reminders for the week ahead.
• Visible Snacks: Leave pre-packaged snacks in easily accessible and visible places, such as on the coffee table, dining table, or in your purse.
• Social Meals: Enjoy meals with family, friends, or carers to provide social contact and a reminder to eat.
• Pre-Packaged Meals: Home-delivered or frozen pre-packaged meals can be a convenient option.
• Variety at Meal Times: If forgetting meals is common, offer a variety of options for each meal period, such as yoghurt, cereal, fruit, and juice for breakfast.

Low Appetite: Eating More to Feel Better

Tips to Boost Appetite:

• Small, Frequent Meals: If three big meals are difficult, try smaller, frequent meals throughout the day, like boiled eggs, tuna or cheese on crackers, and muesli bars.
• Nourishing Drinks: Use full-cream milk, milkshakes with ice cream, or dietitian-prescribed supplements to prevent weight loss and malnutrition.
• Calorie-Dense Foods: Incorporate full-fat dairy products, dips, cheese and biscuits, baked beans on toast, sweets, and hot chips.
• Prioritize Protein: Focus on the protein portion of meals, such as meat, tofu, eggs, or legumes, over vegetables to maintain muscle strength.

Enhancing Meal Times: Making Them Run Smoothly

Practical Tips:

• Finger Foods: If using cutlery is difficult, offer finger foods like cheese sticks, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, or mini-quiches.
• Minimize Distractions: Keep the environment calm by reducing background noise and movements.
• Simple Table Settings: Use plain crockery, tablecloths, and napkins to provide contrast and make eating equipment easily identifiable.
• Model Eating: Demonstrate eating the same food in front of the person with dementia to aid recognition.
• Familiar Foods: Prepare meals using familiar cooking techniques and flavors.
• Routine: Offer meals at the same time each day to create a routine.
• Stay Calm: If you are a caregiver, remain calm and relaxed to help the person with dementia stay relaxed during meals. Allow ample time for eating and understand that it can be a challenging process.

Additional Tips

• Hydration: Encourage regular drinking of fluids to prevent dehydration. Consider offering flavored water or hydrating foods like watermelon.
• Comfortable Environment: Ensure the dining area is comfortable and well-lit to create a pleasant eating experience.
• Adaptive Utensils: Consider using adaptive utensils designed for individuals with limited mobility or coordination.
• Engage Senses: Use aromatic and visually appealing foods to stimulate appetite.
• Physical Activity: Gentle physical activity can help stimulate appetite and improve overall well-being.
• Monitor Weight: Regularly monitor weight to identify any significant changes that may need addressing.

Meal Plans for Brain Health

For those looking for structured meal plans, consider the following:

• Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan Program (7 days)
• Plant Based Mediterranean Meal Plan (7 days) 
• Brain Support Meal Plan Program (7 days)

By following these tips, you can help optimize nutrition for individuals living with dementia, making meal times more manageable and enjoyable. Remember, it’s important to be patient and flexible, adapting strategies to meet the unique needs of each individual.