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Memory care often calls for unique and innovative approaches in every facet of dementia residents' facility experience, and dining is no exception. Experts offer valuable tips on how to minimize stress and promote a safe, pleasant and healthful dining experience.
1 Meal and menu planning require special care.
Ruth Drew, director of information and support services for the Alzheimer's Association, advises serving only one or two foods at a time. "Too many foods at once may be overwhelming," she says.
Still, be mindful of each resident's individual preferences and choices whenever possible, urges Christopher Krause, director of rehab at iN2L.
Many dementia patients can be finicky, making ample menu choices important.
"You have to anticipate what a resident likes to eat," says Cheryl Frazier-Trusty, MS, RD, LDN, a long-term care consultant dietitian with Dietitians on Demand. "Having different choices is imperative." Liberalizing a dementia resident's diet regimen is important to optimize meal planning, she adds.
Moreover, dementia patients may suddenly develop new food preferences or reject foods that were liked in the past, as Drew observes.
One way to help ensure residents will at least nibble is providing plenty of "finger food."
"Be prepared for grazers, with portable food options ready any time," says Lindsay Casillas, senior vice president of business development, Sodexo Seniors. Another...