Posts
A person with Alzheimer's disease may see food on their plate yet fail to connect the chain of logic from hunger to food to eating to satisfacation. This is often the way they perceive the world around them as well. Because of this loss of comprehension, this person may sit and stare at the food and, while hungry, may be unable to put the steps in motion that would allow them to pick up a fork, place food on the fork and put the fork to their mouth, chew, and swallow.
Often, just looking at a plate full of food is overwhelming. Always make their favorite and familiar foods at mealtime. Start with one type of food on a small plate. If they finish that, give them another item, and so on. If the process of eating can be initiated, the remainder of the meal usually can be accomplished without incident.
A lesser experienced caregiver may complain that the patient is being difficult or just plain obstinate. This is not necessarily true. He may have just lost the ability to eat normally. Mealtime can be traumatic for the Alzheimer's person in the moderate to late stages of the illness. "Within the framework of their own personality, habits and traits, they are bewildered human beings, bound on all sides by the progressive limitations of their own body and mind, and this is not easy."
Often, just looking at a plate full of food is overwhelming. Always make their favorite and familiar foods at mealtime. Start with one type of food on a small plate. If they finish that, give them another item, and so on. If the process of eating can be initiated, the remainder of the meal usually can be accomplished without incident.
A lesser experienced caregiver may complain that the patient is being difficult or just plain obstinate. This is not necessarily true. He may have just lost the ability to eat normally. Mealtime can be traumatic for the Alzheimer's person in the moderate to late stages of the illness. "Within the framework of their own personality, habits and traits, they are bewildered human beings, bound on all sides by the progressive limitations of their own body and mind, and this is not easy."
Many times caregivers try to replace meals with sugary flavored meal replacement drinks. These drinks can be very useful but I have found that they probably are best left as a last resort because sometimes they can do more harm than good.
The person with Alzheimer's is much better off eating normal foods even if it is just small snacks several times during the day. Meal supplements can make them sick to their stomach and can even cause severe diarrhea when they are not used to them.
Another issue can be that they forget how to chew and swallow in order. If this is the case, they may truly need the meal supplements. If so, give them half of one as a morning snack between breakfast and lunch and the other half at bedtime.
The person with Alzheimer's is much better off eating normal foods even if it is just small snacks several times during the day. Meal supplements can make them sick to their stomach and can even cause severe diarrhea when they are not used to them.
Another issue can be that they forget how to chew and swallow in order. If this is the case, they may truly need the meal supplements. If so, give them half of one as a morning snack between breakfast and lunch and the other half at bedtime.
No comments:
Post a Comment