Never let the person eat alone because having someone there means someone cares, and if someone cares, then they are prone to eat more. If there is too much noise or activity in the dining area, the person with dementia could find it difficult or upsetting to concentrate on eating. A calm environment will help the person feel at ease and comfortable in their surroundings.
Having too many food options could frustrate the person and make the experience more stressful. A meal could take up to an hour to eat, so the more food, the more time needed at the table.
Sometimes people with dementia may need a little refresher course on how to use a knife or fork by demonstrating how to cut up meat or spread butter on bread. But don’t baby them, they still need to be respected and made to feel like they are independent.
Cut up the food in bite sized pieces or prepare soft, pureed, or finger foods to aid ineasy eating. Don’t overlook proper fluid intake either- lids and straws help with the drinking process as well.
There is a great list of foods at dementia.org that contribute to a healthy diet for those with dementia, which is a key step in the regression of the disease.
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