Memory care professionals are skilled at helping residents with appetite loss. They know that your loved one’s condition can cause them to lose interest in food, but they also know that there are ways to help stimulate the appetite and keep them eating healthy meals. Here’s how:
Regular Meal And Snack Schedule
A regular meal and snack schedule aims to help you break your habit of skipping meals or eating when you feel like it. This can be hard because we’re all busy, but trying is important.
- Set aside time each day for breakfast and dinner.
- Eat simultaneously each day, so you get into a routine where all of your meals are comfortably scheduled.
- Make sure to eat regular meals, not just snacks between them (and don’t give yourself an “out” by having another feature-length film marathon). If you’re going to have a snack, make it something healthy like fruit or yogurt with granola instead of chips or candy bars—you’ll be more likely to curb your appetite on those days when the smell of bacon wafts through your kitchen!
Smaller Portions Of High Nutrient Foods
A common complaint among dementia patients is a lack of appetite. This can be exacerbated by the fact that food has lost its appeal or is no longer satisfying. Eating small portions of high-nutrient foods may help to curb your loved one’s hunger, but it’s important not to overwhelm them with too many options. Memory care facilities try offering the same item for several meals in a row until residents become desensitized to it, then switch things up by introducing new foods slowly over time, so they don’t get overwhelmed!
Here are some options:
- Apples
- Grapes
- Strawberries
Reduce The Need For Utensils
If your loved one is struggling with their appetite, Memory Care can help by purchasing easier utensils. Using a straw makes it easier for them to drink fluids without having to lift a glass or cup. If they like soup and other liquid foods, try using a spoon with a large handle or even just filling the bowl up almost all the way so that it’s easier for them to eat out of it. This can also be done with bowls of cereal!
If they’re still eating hard food (like meat), consider getting forks and knives with long handles so they don’t have to bend over as much while slicing into something like ham or chicken breast on their plate.
Milkshakes Or Smoothies
Milkshakes and smoothies are easy to make, especially if you have a blender. You can add protein powder, fruit, and vegetables for added nutrition.
They provide good sources of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, which help prevent dementia-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). They can be made in bulk, so there is no need to worry about making one every day – make enough for the week!
They are easy to eat or drink because they are smooth and creamy. They are also easy to digest because of their soft texture that doesn’t require much chewing or biting into pieces as other foods do.
They Know What Works
When a loved one struggles with appetite loss, it can be not easy to know what to do. Many factors contribute to this problem, and they all need to be addressed. Thankfully, memory care professionals are trained in how to help with appetite loss. They have the expertise required to work with them on a variety of levels: self-care and nutrition as well as mental health issues or any other underlying cause for their lack of interest in food.
