Improving Mealtimes for Those with Alzheimer’s Disease

Do you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease? If so, it is important to continue making sure that they are eating properly. You see, many people with this disease will lose their appetite or have other difficulties during mealtimes that make it tough for them to eat properly. The good news is that there are ways that you and their home care services providers can help to improve mealtimes.

Home Care Services Ridgewood NJ – Improving Mealtimes for Those with Alzheimer’s Disease

Taking Away Distractions

The number one thing that you and home care services providers can do to improve mealtimes for your loved one is to take away distractions. You should make the environment as peaceful and distraction-free as possible. Make sure the television is turned off. You can even put on some music that calms your loved one. Create an environment where you can sit with your loved one and eat an enjoyable meal together.

Brighter Place Settings

Another way that you can improve mealtimes with your loved one is to put brighter place settings on the table. Some of the time, issues at mealtimes for those with this disease stem from vision issues. However, if you put a brighter placemat on the table with contrasting plate colors, your loved one might be able to see the food on their plate easier. To get you started out, research shows that food served with red plates is the best for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Individual Servings of Food

If you are trying to get your loved one to focus more during mealtimes, serving them one food at a time is another great idea. This way they don’t get overwhelmed with having multiple things on their plate at once. When they finish the one food you give them, you can serve them the next food you are having with that meal.

Proper Mealtime Behaviors

You can also help to make mealtimes better for those with Alzheimer’s disease by modeling the right types of behaviors. For instance, make sure you are sitting properly at the table and eating healthy foods. The more that you do this, the more that your loved one will be likely to follow.

Serve Foods That Entice Your Loved One

You can get your loved one to do better at mealtimes by serving them foods that entice them. For instance, if your loved one loves the smell of honey, add some honey to the chicken you are serving.

These are some of the best tips for improving mealtimes with those who have Alzheimer’s disease. If you want to help your loved one eat better, follow these tips starting today.

Sources:  https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/beas/documents/disorders.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20047918

If you or a senior family member are considering hiring Home Care Services in Ridgewood NJ, please contact the caring staff at Caring Solutions Home Care LLC. In-home senior care servicing Bergen & Passaic Counties. Call today at (973) 427-3553.