menu

800.225.2610

Proper Nutrition for Older Adults and Residents With Alzheimer's

December 4, 2018

alzheimer patients

Proper Nutrition Can Be a Challenge

Loss of appetite is a common problem in older people living in nursing homes or assisted living residences.1 It can contribute to weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and poor healthcare outcomes.2 For caregivers and staff of long-term care facilities, understanding the cause behind an apparent lack of appetite can go a long way in ensuring that daily nutritional needs are met.

Why does this happen?

Medications: For many residents, treatment for health issues may be decreasing their appetite. Medications have appetite suppressing side effects, and treatments that result in nausea can also limit food intake.

Diseases and disorders: Residents with swallowing problems or digestive disorders, such as reflux, make eating unpleasant. Diseases that cause loss of motor function in the mouth can also make eating difficult and painful.3

Dental problems: Dentures that don't fit well can cause discomfort in the gums, which may make eating solid foods painful.

Changing How We Look at Food

Residents with Alzheimer's pose new challenges when it comes to eating. Not only do many of the already mentioned impediments exist, but there is also a cognitive dissonance between what is served and what the patient sees. The ability to see colors diminishes with age, and people with Alzheimer's often have a hard time seeing contrast, which can make it tough to distinguish food from a plate or liquid from its container.4 A study conducted at Boston University found that Alzheimer’s patients who were served meals on red plates ate 25% more than those served the same meal on white plates.5 The research also found that presenting food on a high contrast background, like a bold colored plate, could mitigate the loss of visual perception the patient was experiencing.6

AliMed has a wide selection of high-quality ADL products that help promote patient independence, including our red dinnerware sets. Learn more here.

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4589891/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4589891/
  3. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/dysphagia
  4. http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2014/08/red-plates-for-eating-with-dementia.html
  5. http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2014/08/red-plates-for-eating-with-dementia.html
  6. http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2014/08/red-plates-for-eating-with-dementia.html

You may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

AliMed, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of medical supply products, and is not a medical authority. The contents contained in this article, including text, graphics, imagery, and other materials, are for informational and educational purposes only. AliMed does not provide or intend to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and the information contained here should not be treated as such. If you have questions about a specific medical condition or specific personal use of a medical device, always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

This blog was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Although every effort has been made to present information that is accurate and true to the best of our knowledge, this content may contain omissions or errors. AliMed does not regularly update information or resources for this content and does not guarantee, make any warranties, and accepts no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information presented.