Eating

Mealtime is important for maintaining good nutrition and hydration. People with dementia may forget to eat or drink, and they may find the task of eating difficult or distressing. Ideas to make mealtimes healthy and comfortable include the following:

• Routine. Eat at the same time every day as much as possible. If mealtimes are too long or difficult, consider frequent, smaller meals throughout the day.
• Hydration. Offer small glasses of water frequently throughout the day to promote adequate hydration. Offer food with high water content, such as fruit, soups and smoothies.
• Calm environment. Avoid distractions, such as a television or radio. Remove unnecessary clutter from the table. Turn off phones.
• Dishes and utensils. Choose dishes that are easiest to use: white dishes instead of patterned dishes, bowls instead of plates, spoons instead of forks, or fingers instead of utensils. Use bendable straws or lidded cups.
• Food servings. Cut food into bite-sized pieces before serving, or make finger foods. Serve one type of food at a time, as deciding what to eat may be agitating.
• Food choices. As much as possible, make favorite and familiar foods, while ensuring generous servings of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
• Encouragement and modeling. You can help with the basic mechanics of eating by demonstrating how to hold a spoon, when to take a drink or how to chew enough after a bite. You can gently hold the person's hand to help with using a utensil.
• Sharing meals. Eat together and treat mealtimes as an opportunity to visit.