- Introduction
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention
-
Caregiving
- Coping with Emotional Changes
- Coping with Memory Loss
- Costs and Insurance
- Creating a Daily Routine
- Exercise
- Health and Wellbeing of the Caregiver
- Home Safety Adjustments
- Mental Exercises
- Respite Care
- Talking to Children about Alzheimer's
- Talking to Friends about Alzheimer's
- Telling Someone They Have Alzheimer's
- Transition to Assisted Living
- Transition to Nursing Home
- Work
- Related Conditions
- Resources
Q: how you might assist the client with eating if the client is at the moderate stage of alzheimer's disease?
Find foods the person enjoys and serve frequent small meals if that seems to go down better. Some people retain a good appetite and have no swallowing problems until late in the disease. If this person is choking, however, then you should consult with a dietitian at a hospital or nursing home for advice.
Take care,
Carol
Often the person may have a hard time to handle the meal and needs help to be fed. Use a spoon if there is trouble. Cut the food into pieces. Sometimes the person would have ego and refuse more help until later on. He/she would use the fingers to handle the food so finger food should be offered at times. Slowly the person with moderate stage would choke near the end of the moderate stage moving toward late stage, so watch out and make sure the person does not get aspiration pneumonia. The person could cough after he/she drinks water or eats dry food occasionally. Don't push them to take the stuff if he/she coughs like that. Later on when you see more choking/coughing, try to give them soft food or pureed food. Soft desserts and Ensure are good (they love sweet food in this stage.) Ensure helps if you don't think the person eats enough solid food.
The person would be in a mess during the meal time, so it is a good idea to
Once you see more signs of choking, you should start pureed food so the person does not refuse the food. The person can still eat soft desserts like pies or scones.
Make some apron for the person and put it around the front. I see some people make their own for the patient. (A bigger one, for example. The market only sells the aprons/bibs for babies.) They are messy with eating regular food, so put some apron or towel on the front.
Regards,
NC
Since the brain is involved in all aspects of eating, it follows that eating and nutritional issues are common for people with Alzheimer's disease. Some people may lose interest in eating, some may have issues with chewing and swallowing, and some may have difficulty feeding themselves. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to maintain a healthy diet and eating plan for an individual with Alzheimer's disease. Continue to encourage the individual to eat, even when it seems the person has lost interest in food. Offer foods that the person has always liked, and pick nutritious foods whenever possible. Involve the individual in the cooking process for the added sensory stimulation. Make eating easier for the individual by organizing the food, plates and utensils: Give only one food item at a time since a busy plate can be confusing. Try one course at a time, served on one plate or bowl. Pre-cut foods and finger foods are easiest to manage. For those individuals who have difficulty chewing and/or swallowing, make sure that food has been cut into small bites, make sure each bite has been swallowed before the next, and offer liquids and keep food moist. Also it is advisable to discuss this issue with the person's physician since eating issue could be reflective of dysphagia (swallowing problems), which can be life-threatening.
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
