With holidays on the horizon, many of us are making plans to gather with family and friends. These gatherings often involve lively conversation, exchanging gifts, and other celebrations of the season.
Preparing our favorite foods and lots of eating are at the center of these get-togethers. Eating brings joy. Food engages all the senses, especially taste and smell. The traditional meals and treats we share have strong ties to memories of holidays past.
For someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, however, all the activity, the people, and associated noise can be unsettling. Normal routines are interrupted, and this may create some discomfort and confusion.
Change and added stress can also decrease appetite and hydration patterns, especially at advance stages. Individuals living with dementia often have physical difficulties including progressive hearing and sight loss that can also cause problems with eating and drinking.
Learning more about an individual’s abilities, needs, and preferences can aid in making a meal a time to honor personal preferences, choices, and the independence of the person living with dementia.
Here are some dementia-inclusive tips for making holiday meals a joyous occasion:
- Maintain a normal routine. Sticking to an individual’s normal routine will help keep the holidays from becoming overly stressful. Plan time for breaks and rest.
- Use the buddy system. Have family and friends take turns being the buddy to your loved one. This is a great way to encourage one-on-one time as well as provide a break to the primary caregiver.
- Involve the person with dementia. Focus on activities and traditions that are meaningful to the person living with dementia. Honor preferences and choices by involving them in holiday preparation. As abilities allow, invite them to help you decorate, plan the menu, prepare food, and set the table. They may also want to help clean up afterwards.
- Make sure to have favorites at the ready, such as holiday music, movies, clothing, and food. Familiar favorites can bring comfort and build enjoyment into a holiday celebration. Honor preferences and choices, especially with food and drink. Keep calm. Don’t rush the person; it’s important they do not feel hurried and are given enough time to eat.
- Encourage independence. Be ready to help if needed but encourage as much independence as possible. To make it easier for the person to serve him or herself, modify food choices to support chewing and swallowing. This may include serving finger foods, precutting food, or serving soft foods such as soups, applesauce, or yogurt, or presenting one item at a time. Consider adapting utensils to make eating easier or serving food in a bowl or plate with a rim. Use color contrasts between dishes and place settings to make the food easier to see as vision and spatial abilities can be affected by dementia.
- Ensure they drink enough fluids. Encourage beverages throughout the day and put the glass or cup where they can see it clearly. Make sure the container can be held comfortably (not too heavy or awkwardly shaped). Offer a variety of beverages throughout the day such as tea, coffee, fruit juice or smoothies, and water. Fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumber aid with hydration too.
- Reserve a quiet space.If possible, have a spare room or area reserved as a quiet space if the person in your care becomes noticeably confused or agitated. Have a family member or friend accompany them, keep them company, and help to soothe, comfort, and engage them. Consider playing soft music. Provide a comfortable chair, some holiday treats and small gifts, as well as activities like a family photo album or Beautiful Questions to engage a conversation.
Planning a dementia-inclusive holiday meal helps a person living with cognitive change to still experience the nutritional, social, emotional, and mental benefits of these celebrations. Dementia-inclusive mealtimes additionally encourage connection with family, friends, and care providers as well.
Having trouble navigating your role as a family caregiver? It can be complicated. We can help. Schedule a free, get-acquainted call today with one of our Certified Care Managers.
