Tips for Making Mealtime Easier for a Senior with Alzheimer’s Disease
Home Care in Garden City NY
As a family caregiver for an elderly adult who is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, you have likely noticed that many of the tasks that they used to do comfortably and easily have become more 
challenging for them, or that they are suffering ill-effects that go beyond their cognitive functioning decline, such as losing weight due to poor nutrition. Many elderly adults living with dementia struggle with eating enough, getting enough of the right foods, or eating safely due to issues with chewing and swallowing. It is important that you take the time to address these issues carefully so that your parent can maintain the best health and avoid potential complications as they age in place.
Use these tips to make mealtime easier for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease:
- Keep the table simple. While a floral arrangement or decorative pieces may be lovely, they can be very confusing and distracting for a senior who is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Keep the table as simple as possible so that they can focus on the food that they are supposed to be eating and not get confused by the non-edible items on the table. This is especially true of items such as fake fruits that might look like your parent should eat them, but they should not.
- Avoid distractions. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease are very easily distracted, which can make it difficult for them to focus on eating. Turn off the television, radio, and other distractions during mealtime. Silence the phone and consider clothing the blinds so that your parent is not taken off-track during their meal.
- Limit food offerings. Avoid serving a meal with several components all at once. This can be distracting, confusing, and overwhelming for your parent. They might not know which foods to eat first or think the amount of food is daunting and not want to try to eat it. Instead, select one or two foods, present them a small amount of it, and then move on to other foods if they eat all of what you have given them or resist what you have given them.
- Be respectful of their preferences. You might think that you know what types of foods your parent enjoys the most, only to find that they refuse to eat them. Dementia can cause a person’s food preferences to change dramatically, so it is important to pay attention to how they respond to different foods and serve them healthy options that they will enjoy.
If you have been considering ways to help your elderly loved one live a higher quality of life as they age in place, starting home care for them may be the ideal solution. The highly personalized services of a senior home care services provider are designed specifically with your elderly loved one’s needs, limitations, and challenges in mind, while also promoting as much independence, activity, and engagement as possible. This means that they will be able to live a lifestyle that is safe, happy, healthy, and fulfilling as they address their needs in a way that is right for them. For a senior who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, this personalized, attentive care can make a tremendous difference in their comfort, security, and health, giving them the opportunity to make more out of their later years as they cope with the effects of their dementia. This care provider can be with your parent during mealtime to help them address the particular issues that they face, preparing meals for them, sitting with them to provide companionship and support, and even providing physical assistance with eating so that your loved one gets the nutrition that they need and avoids potentially serious dangers and complications.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Garden City, NY, please contact the caring staff at Family First Home Companions. Serving all of Long Island. Call today: (631) 319-3961
Source: https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-food-eating.asp
Jennifer has specialized training in Alzheimer’s disease through the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.She also volunteered her time with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island for 3 years by providing cognitive stimulation to an Alzheimer’s patient group.
Jennifer educates the community about elder care and speaks to caregiver support groups, senior centers, and at professional organizations.Topics include home safety, effective strategies for family caregiving, elder care planning, and awareness about elder abuse.
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