Eating Well
Peoples taste and appetite can change over the years and some people living with dementia may experience problems with eating and drinking. Not everyone will experience the same changes but when someone's eating habits change it can be distressing for the person and those around them.
Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy bones, muscles and general health. Making sure a person follows a healthy balanced diet and maintains a healthy weight can reduce the risk of falling and suffering more serious injuries.
The Eatwell Guide can be used to help people get a balance of healthier and more sustainable food. It shows how much of what a person eats overall should come from each food group.
Healthy Eating and Drinking for a Person with Dementia information has been produced by Dementia UK. The Alzheimer's Society also have a useful information about Eating and Drinking.
Eating and Drinking well with Dementia is a guide for family, carers and friends (available on request). It has been developed to provide some helpful advice and tips on how to increase food and drink intake for those living with dementia.
Age UK Sheffield home care toolkit eating and drinking section outlines some considerations when encouraging a person with dementia to eat and drink.
Eating Well with a Small Appetite is an information leaflet that has been produced by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals which provides hints for coping with a small appetite, easy to prepare meal ideas and the importance of adding extra nourishment to food.
This is me form is available from the Alzheimer’s Society website which can
be completed to provide home carers or hospital teams with information about a persons food preferences.