We all know that a balanced diet holds the key to good health and well-being. However, what happens when eating becomes challenging? People living with dementia commonly experience difficulties with eating. This is not only attributed to the sight, hearing loss and confusion that often accompanies dementia, making mealtimes a struggle, but also due to a condition known as dysphagia.
Being aware of the difficulties individuals with dementia face when it comes to eating can help you understand how to help them nourish themselves and stay as healthy as possible. We will explore what dysphagia is, how to spot it and how to help manage chewing and swallowing difficulties in people living with dementia.
For more information on dementia care and how we can help, take a look at our live-in dementia care guide.
What is dysphagia in dementia?
Dysphagia is commonly experienced by individuals in the later stages of dementia. Dysphagia describes a difficulty in swallowing that affects a person’s ability to consume food and drink. Over time dysphagia can lead to malnutrition, weight loss and dehydration.
Signs of dysphagia
Common signs of dysphagia include:
- Choking when eating or drinking
- Coughing when eating or drinking
- Inability to keep food down
- Feeling that food is stuck in the throat
- Drooling
- Holding food in the mouth for long periods of time
- Problems chewing food
Causes of dementia-related dysphagia
People living with late-stage dementia may begin to lose interest in eating and drinking or develop swallowing problems, otherwise known as dysphagia. Dysphagia in dementia can occur due to numerous reasons:
- Inability to use or hold utensils properly
- Poor posture during meals
- Muscle weakness
- Inability to recognise food or drinks
- Loss of sensitivity to food temperature
- Reduced awareness of hunger and thirst
- Changes in smell, taste and vision issues
- Excessive noise disrupting mealtimes
- Too much visual stimulation or poor lighting during mealtimes
- Confusion
- Poor oral hygiene
- Medication side effects
- Inability to express needs and food preferences
- Forgetting when to eat
- Food textures and consistency
What causes dementia-related chewing difficulties
Individuals living with dementia may also have problems with chewing their food alongside swallowing. Chewing difficulties may look like individuals have forgotten to chew or are keeping food in their mouth for excessive periods of time.
It may be the case that the food itself is the cause as dementia can affect a person’s sense of taste and smell. The condition impairs the part of the brain that processes taste and smell, affecting an individual’s enjoyment of the food and drink they are consuming. This lack of interest in food can lead to less inclination to chew properly and enjoy each bite.
How to help someone with dysphagia and chewing difficulties?
Whilst people with dementia don’t need a special diet, there may be ways to help make mealtimes easier with a few helpful tips:
- Personal preferences – Consider what they like and don’t like and stick to their routines and mealtimes to make eating less stressful.
- Watch for signs – Look out for body language and eye contact as a non-verbal means of communication.
- Patience – Remain calm and do not rush an individual with dementia when they are eating, giving them enough time to chew and swallow properly.
- Independence – Help them retain as much independence as possible surrounding food preparation and mealtimes.
- Ask for help – Speak to their GP or a dietitian to receive professional nutritional advice on what is best for an individual living with dementia.
How can live-in care help?
Having a live-in carer living on-site in the home of an individual with dementia can be helpful for many reasons. A live-in carer can provide personalised, round-the-clock support in line with the individual’s health care needs and preferences. Live-in carers assist with a wide range of tasks, from personal care, such as bathing and dressing, to mobility assistance.
In terms of assistance during mealtimes, a live-in carer can specifically help with:
- Ensuring a quiet and relaxing eating environment
- Preparing meals in line with the individual’s likes and dislikes
- Cutting up or blending food to make it easier to eat
- Liaising with other healthcare experts regarding nutrition and dementia care
- Maintaining independence as individuals receive care in their own home
- Gentle encouragement at mealtimes
- Feeding assistance
How Country Cousins can help
The support of an expert dementia carer ensures that individuals living with dementia have assistance, should they need it, around mealtimes. Not only can a Country Cousins’ dementia carer help with food preparation and eating, addressing any dementia-related chewing or swallowing difficulties, but this service can also offer peace of mind and reassurance for their family.
With more than 60 years of experience, we have extensive expertise in a wide range of home care services, with dementia care at home being one of them. You can trust us to help you find the most suitable carer to support your loved one in line with their personal preferences and wishes.
For more information on selecting dementia care for you or your loved one, check out our guide to dementia care.
Talk to our team today
If you require live-in care for you or your loved one, get in touch with us at Country Cousins today. We are the UK’s longest-serving introductory care agency, having provided compassionate care to people in their own homes since 1959.
Give us a call today on 01293 244 706 should you have any questions about home care. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form
