Eating, drinking and mealtimes are central to human existence, physically, emotionally and socially. When these are affected by dementia or any condition that causes difficulties with chewing and swallowing, the impact on health and quality of life can be profound.

By Sarah Brown APD, Head of Food Culture, HammondCare

Fresh food is enticing food! For many people, gathering together to prepare and enjoy fresh food is a highlight of the day. And the delicious aromas of cooking and baking get stomachs rumbling, acting as a cue that it will soon be time to eat. In residential care settings, involving residents in food preparation – and finding creative ways to do this for every ability – creates the atmosphere of a home, not a ‘facility'. That's why our cottage model of care features fresh food kitchens at the heart of each home.

How does dementia impact eating and drinking?

A person living with dementia can have their eating habits affected in a number of ways, including appetite changes, difficulty with using cutlery, pain, swallowing difficulties, sensory changes to taste or smell, or simply forgetting to eat.

However, there are many helpful strategies to support a person experiencing dementia-related eating issues:

• Try to find out about the person's history and their preferences of how, when, why, where and what to eat.
• Gather recipes of favourite meals from across their lifetime and offer foods that match their preferred flavours, ingredients and cooking styles.
• Involve the person in the preparation of food – this involvement can range from simply being in or around the kitchen, through to physically preparing ingredients, cooking and serving the meal, or setting and clearing tables.
• Sit and eat together, which can be both an enjoyable social interaction and also provides the opportunity to model eating behaviour in a supportive and friendly manner.
• Support the person to eat in their preferred location – whether that be in front of the TV, in bed or sitting outdoors.
• Finger food is an excellent alternative for people who have difficulty using or recognising cutlery, enjoy grazing throughout the day, or prefer not to sit at a table for a meal.
• Serving small, frequent snacks that are high in energy and protein, nourishing homemade drinks such as smoothies, and dessert at any time of day, can all be useful strategies for a person with a smaller appetite. A dietitian can also provide individualised suggestions and advice.
• Enable the person to eat and drink when they are hungry and thirsty, not only at set mealtimes – this includes during the middle of the night!
• In residential care settings, create a supportive mealtime environment by minimising noise, clutter and distractions and ensuring adequate lighting. Set the table neatly to indicate mealtimes and clear it afterwards.

The keys here are knowing the person and being creative. Favourite flavours at any time of day, frozen ice-blocks of pre-thickened drinks and focusing on appealing presentation are just a few of many possible approaches.

Most importantly, don't forget the importance of colour, flavour, nutrition and aroma in stimulating the appetite for and enjoyment of food and nourishing the whole person.

Sarah Brown is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, who joined HammondCare in 2012. She has held various roles across Health and Residential Care, and enjoys supporting teams and the people we are privileged to care for, and learning from them. Sarah has maintained a lifelong passion for food – food that is nourishing, delicious and simple, using high quality fresh ingredients and shared with others.

Three dementia-inclusive cookbooks 

Our passion for fresh, high-quality food has inspired the creation of three cookbooks to assist those who are cooking for someone who lives with dementia:

• It's All About the Food Not the Fork is full of appetising smaller meals that can be eaten with your hands – no cutlery required!
• Don't Give Me Eggs That Bounce celebrates the dignity of older people, those living with dementia and those with eating difficulties by providing easy recipes for delicious, nutritious foods catering to a range of dietary needs.
• Lobster for Josino acknowledges the importance of flavour at every stage of life, bringing together carefully researched clinical advice and innovative recipes to provide joy and flavour to people at the end of their lives.

Our cookbooks contain invaluable advice from expert chefs and health professionals. And of course, plenty of delicious recipes! Order your copies at: www.hammond.com.au/shop