Alzheimer’s is a brain disease, which provokes dementia and memory loss. It causes eating and muscular problems with loss of social links.

Alzheimer’s - eating problems

The main problem of the Alzheimer's disease is the loss of memory. Other symptoms can also appear like:

- Eating problems: patients forget how to eat so there is a risk of malnutrition, they lose interest in eating and they have a poor appetite (depression, communication problems)

-Weight loss problem: patients forget and do not recognize food or drink so they usually are dehydrated and tired

-Muscular problems: they have difficulties in walking, digesting (constipation), using utensils or raising a glass, opening their mouths in order to put food in it or even to chew because they don't have physical activities

-Brain problems: patients lose their ability to concentrate; they are distracted while eating

-Sensory problems: losing the ability to gauge food temperature, leading to burns, developing a reduced feeling of thirst, not being aware of their thirst

Insufficient nutrition and hydration can lead to deterioration of overall health.

Tips for patients

• Make food look and smell appealing, and give them food they like (a dessert even if they haven’t finished their savory meal)

• Look for additional opportunities for eating. For example, if a patient is awake at night, then night-time snacks can be useful

• Don’t overload a patient’s plate: smaller but more frequent meals in small pieces (easier to chew)

• Try different types of foods and drinks, like a milkshake or smoothie (easier to swallow)

• Ensure food temperature isn’t too hot

• Have the patient help out with mealtime preparation (social interaction)

• Encourage the patient with friendly reminders

• If the person initially refuses food, try again a bit later

• Don’t remove food from the person just because they stopped eating, they may be temporarily distracted and will resume once again

Tips to improve the patient's’ environment

• Eat with the person and turn your meal into a social experience           

• Make the environment appealing by using familiar sounds or smells to entice eating           

• Keep the table free of clutter           

• Keep the environment quiet and free of distractions

• Allow the patient to choose where they want to sit and eat, even what they want to eat           

• Ensure the patient can see the food, that it is colorful, and the room is well lit

• Don’t worry about the mess that can result from eating           

• Avoid making the patient feel rushed and allow them to eat at their own pace

Zoé and Margot, 2TSA