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Alzheimer's: Making mealtimes easier
Alzheimer's can make good nutrition a challenge. Tips for making mealtimes easier.
By Mayo Clinic staffProblems with eating often occur in people who have Alzheimer's. Some forget to eat, while others forget that they've already eaten. Although nutrition may have little effect on how Alzheimer's disease progresses, it's important for your loved one to eat a variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables.
Poor nutrition can result in physical weakness, increasing the likelihood of falls and fractures. It can also reduce the efficiency of the immune system, making it less able to fight off disease and heal wounds. Malnutrition and dehydration may increase confusion and stress, and reduce your loved one's ability to cope.
Determine the cause
Some eating problems are caused by factors that can be changed. So the first step is to figure out what is causing the problem. It may be:
- Ill-fitting dentures. As a denture wearer ages, the fit of his or her false teeth tends to loosen. This can cause pinching or rubbing that can make eating painful. Make sure dentures fit properly, and regularly check your loved one's mouth for sores.
- Disease. Diabetes, heart disease or digestive problems can decrease appetite, as can depression or constipation. Treating these conditions may improve appetite.
- Medications. Many medications decrease appetite, including certain antibiotics, heart medications, arthritis drugs and antidepressants. Your doctor may be able to substitute other medicines that have less impact on appetite.
Fading skills and senses
The senses of taste and smell tend to diminish with normal aging. So even healthy seniors often eat less because food doesn't smell or taste as good as it once did. Alzheimer's disease seems to inhibit eating even further.
In the early stages of Alzheimer's, your loved one may simply forget to eat or lose the skills needed to prepare proper meals. Some families call to remind loved ones to eat. Others prepare food in advance and then, over the phone, talk their loved ones through the steps of unwrapping, reheating and serving.
As the disease progresses, your loved one may forget table manners and eat from others' plates or out of serving bowls. He or she may lose impulse control and eat anything in sight, including items not intended as food. During the later stages of the disease, swallowing difficulties may develop.
Agitation and distraction
Agitation, one of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer's, can make it difficult for the person to sit still long enough to eat a meal. Distractions at mealtime make this even worse. To reduce distractions, you might turn off the telephone ringer, television and radio. Some caregivers clear the table of items that may distract the person with Alzheimer's from focusing on his or her meal. If patterns on dinnerware are distracting, choose solid colors.
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