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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Health and wellbeing
    3. Illnesses and conditions
    4. Health conditions
    5. Dementia
    6. Supporting someone with dementia

    Dementia support: helping to maintain good health and nutrition

    Dementia is a progressive condition. Over time, it can affect how a person eats and drinks. If you are a carer of a person living with a dementia, you can help them eat a balanced diet and maintain good health.

    Importance of good nutrition 

    It's important the person you care for has a healthy, balanced diet and also gets some exercise. 

    If they don't eat enough or eat unhealthy food, they can become vulnerable to other illnesses.

    People with a dementia can become more confused if they get ill.

    Following diagnosis and in the early stages of dementia the priority will be to help them keep a healthy weight and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

    As the disease progresses, their appetite will change and decline.

    Watch out for signs of malnutrition.

    This may mean changing to a high calorie and high protein diet.

    In the last stage of the illness, the aim of nutritional care will be to help the person with dementia enjoy the highest quality of life possible.

    Aggressive nutritional support isn’t usually suitable at this stage in the illness.

    Changes in eating and drinking habits 

    If you care for someone with a dementia, you might notice their eating and drinking habits changing over time. This might be due to:

    • progression of dementia
    • trouble swallowing
    • depression or anxiety
    • loss of appetite
    • lack of physical activity

    If there is a sudden change in the person’s eating and drinking this may be due to:

    • an oral or dental infection
    • a urinary/kidney infection
    •  chest infection
    • medication
    • pain
    • tiredness
    • constipation

    But not everyone with a dementia will have these health conditions.

    If you're concerned about the person's health, you should contact their GP.

    The GP might need to refer them to another health care professional.

    How to adapt to changing eating habits 

    If you notice changes in the person's eating and drinking behaviour, you can do things to help them.

    Create a calm place for eating and drinking 

    Before a person with a dementia eats or drinks:

    • make sure they're in a relaxed place without noise or distractions
    • check they're using dentures, glasses and hearing aids if needed
    • clear unnecessary items from the table
    • check they are sitting as upright as possible – this helps them to be alert
    • use colour contrast to help them see their food, for example, don't put fish, cauliflower and potatoes on a white plate
    • use plain, unpatterned plates or tablecloths
    • serve one course at a time

    Encouraging a person to eat and drink

    When the person you are caring for begins to eat, you can help by:

    • feeding only when they're alert and can swallow safely
    • being relaxed and flexible when helping them to eat and drink
    • not rushing them
    • telling them about their food
    • sitting facing them, or slightly to their side so that you can make eye contact
    • placing food where they can see it
    • encouraging  them to feed themselves 
    • helping when needed, but not forcing
    • giving prompts to chew and swallow
    • watching closely and waiting for each swallow - only giving another mouthful when they have swallowed

    Encouraging appetite 

    Making food look and smell appealing can encourage the person to eat. You can do this by:

    • getting them to help prepare the food or set the table if possible
    • preparing food with different tastes, colours and smells
    • separating different types of puréed food on the same plate, such as meat, potatoes and vegetables 
    • offering regular small meals or snacks and encouraging them to eat when they are in good form
    • serving each course separately to keep food warm and appetising
    • offering dessert if they don't finish their dinner
    • turning the plate around or moving the plate if they have eyesight problems

    If they wake at night and this becomes a pattern, they might be hungry.  Ask their GP.

    Memory changes and eating and drinking 

    A person with a dementia often has difficulties concentrating and sitting at a table for all of a meal.

    • Dementia support: helping with eating and drinking

    Swallowing issues and eating and drinking 

    A person with a dementia may have difficulty with some types of food and fluids. This can lead to them spitting out lumps or holding food in the mouth.

    • Dementia support: understanding and helping with swallowing issues

    Changing behaviours at mealtimes 

    As the condition progresses, a person living with a dementia may display changes in behaviour at mealtimes.

    • Dementia support: understanding changing behaviour at mealtimes

    Help and support 

    As a carer, there ways you can help support them in their everyday life and activities.

     Further information on dementia and support services is available at the link below:

    • Help and support for people living with a dementia
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    Supporting someone with dementia

    • Dementia support: helping to maintain good health and nutrition
    • Dementia support: helping with eating and drinking
    • Dementia support: understanding and helping with swallowing issues
    • Dementia support: understanding and responding to changing behaviour
    • Dementia support: understanding and responding to distressed behaviour
    • Dementia support: understanding changing behaviour at mealtimes
    • How to support someone with a dementia
    • What to do if you’re worried someone has dementia

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