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What did one plate say to the other plate? Dinner is on me tonight! Several tips can come in handy when it comes to eating, nutrition and hydration for a person with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Let's start with eating, and more specifically, the plate. Several foods are white, grey, brown, or maybe red in color. Someone with dementia cannot distinguish the food from the plate, making it difficult to remain independent and continue feeding themselves. A great color for a plate or bowl is navy blue. Very few foods are blue and having this distinction between the plate and food, helps continue independent eating.
Another great tip with eating is serving hand held foods, such as half-sandwiches, sliced apples with peanut butter, raw vegetables, or a protein bar. Stay away from soups, spaghetti and salads. It is hard to eat these foods without "making a mess" and this can cause the person to feel embarrassed or unsuccessful. If eating with a fork or spoon becomes less and less, handheld foods are the best go-to!
This leads into nutrition, which is important for people of any age. Obtaining the food necessary for health is essential, and one of the most important food groups is protein. Protein boosts immunity, rebuilds cells, and boosts energy. Meat, such as turkey, chicken and venison are great choices, but sometimes chewing meat can be an obstacle as well. Other ways to get protein is eggs, beans, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, and protein bars/shakes. These give a lot of options for preparation, like omelets with vegetables, Greek yogurt with fresh fruit, and chia seeds, and so many other healthy additions. When serving protein shakes, it is great to mix those with yogurt or ice cream to reduce the gritty texture. Be creative! You never know what may work since people's taste buds change after time. Besides, a little ice cream mixed with a protein shake, is worth the trade off of calories vs protein.
Lastly hydration. Have you ever taken a big drink of water and do the "Ahhhh
after a workout or run? Water is such an important source of hydration, and sadly, the elderly population, especially those with dementia, do not think to drink. A reminder is needed.
Again, be creative! Add lemon, lime, mint, fruit, cucumbers -- the possibilities are endless. A great tip is to keep a clear pitcher or container out with ice, water, lemon, or other fruits, as a visual reminder. And FYI, this is a great visual for people of all ages. If something is easily accessible, people are more tempted to partake. Other excellent choices for hydration are sports drinks, propel, liquid IV. Have you heard of liquid IV? If you have, hopefully it helped with your hangover, but it is also an excellent source of hydration. These drinks have electrolytes and essential vitamins and give an extra boost!
Please take the time to eat with your loved one and create an atmosphere of easy dining. Soft music, not TV, and easy conversation.
I hope this will help you as a caregiver or family member be more successful during your mealtime and throughout the day!
For questions, please feel free to please write in to The Inter Mountain at 520 Railroad Ave., Elkins, WV 26241, or send email to bjohnson@theintermountain.com.