Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

continued:

Alzheimer's: Dealing with daily challenges

Eating

A person who has Alzheimer's may not remember when he or she last ate — or why it's important to eat. Some people who have Alzheimer's want to eat all the time, while others need encouragement to eat.

  • Eat at regular times. Don't rely on your loved one to ask for food. As Alzheimer's progresses, your loved one may not respond to hunger or thirst.
  • Vary the menu. Offer limited but healthy food choices with varied textures, colors and spices.
  • Choose foods that contrast with the color of the plate. Alzheimer's disease may compromise your loved one's visual and spatial abilities — sometimes making it tough to distinguish food from the plate.
  • Serve things one at a time. Placing only one item on the plate at a time can help keep meals pleasant and simple.
  • Be careful when serving hot food. Your loved one may not recognize that a food is too hot to eat.
  • Limit distractions. Turn off the television or radio and the ringer on the telephone to help your loved one focus on the task at hand.
  • Eat together. Make meals an enjoyable social event so that your loved one looks forward to the experience.

Toileting

As Alzheimer's progresses, problems with incontinence often surface. Help your loved one maintain a sense of dignity despite the loss of control.

  • Make the bathroom easy to find. A sign on the door that says "Toilet" may be helpful. You can even use a picture of a toilet.
  • Be alert for signs. Restlessness or tugging on clothing may signal the need to use the toilet.
  • Establish a schedule. Schedule bathroom breaks every two hours, before and after meals and before bedtime. Don't wait for your loved one to ask.
  • Make clothing easy to open or remove. Replace zippers and buttons with Velcro. Choose pants with an elastic waist.
  • Take accidents in stride. Praise toileting success — and offer reassurance when accidents happen.

Patience is key

As you help your loved one meet daily challenges, be patient and compassionate. If a certain approach stops working, don't be discouraged. Simply try something new. As Alzheimer's progresses, every bit of understanding, flexibility and creativity you can muster will make life easier for both you and your loved one.

Previous page
(2 of 2)
References
  1. Caregiver guide. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/caregiverguide.htm. Accessed Aug. 7, 2009.
  2. Smith KL, et al. Weight loss and nutritional considerations in Alzheimer disease. 2008;27:381.
  3. Dunne TE, et al. Visual contrast enhances food and liquid intake in advanced Alzheimer's disease. Clinical Nutrition. 2004;23:533.
  4. Fact sheet: Eating. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/Resources/FactSheets/FSEating.pdf. Accessed Aug. 7, 2009.
  5. Incontinence. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_10510.asp. Accessed Aug. 7, 2009.

AZ00026

Dec. 18, 2009

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger