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Megan Zimmerman, Dementia Friendly State Coordinator, NEI3A
Janet Buls, Nutrition Director, NEI3A
Dementia impacts all aspects of a person’s life, including a person’s eating habits and abilities. It’s important to understand how dementia impacts this aspect of life and ways you can be more dementia friendly when it comes to dining with a person with dementia.
Dementia and Impact on Appetite and Eating
- Change in taste; foods may taste different due to changes in the brain.
- Difficulty recognizing the food on the table.
- Too many food choices can be confusing or overwhelming.
- Person may forget to eat (or may eat too much).
- Other factors such as medications, poor-fitting dentures, or decreased exercise may impact appetite.
Dementia Friendly Meal Tips
- Offer one food at a time instead of too many options.
- Accommodate food preferences as much as possible (hot vs. cold meals; textures/tastes; time of meal).
- Do not assume the person knows how to warm up or prepare meals properly; give extra instructions or reminders.
- Use contrasting color dishes compared to food; keep the table setting simple.
- Limit distractions; turn off the television and other background noise.
- Don’t rush; allow plenty of time for the person to eat.
Dining Out
- Consider eating at more familiar restaurants
- Choose “off times” for less waiting, noise, and crowds
- Ask the hostess or choose a table further away from the door, kitchen or restrooms
- Buffets and large menus can offer lots of options but may be overwhelming
- Consider sharing with your server that your guest is living with dementia as well as any special requests to make the meal go more smoothly
- Sometimes dining out is just too overwhelming for a person with dementia. Consider takeout as an alternative.
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Know a restaurant that might be willing to become a Dementia Friendly Business? Share the opportunity with them!
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