The number of dementia cases is predicted to triple globally by 2050, which will have a significant effect on healthcare and senior living facilities. The number of individuals needing memory care will rise as the baby boomer generation ages, as will the cost of providing for them. Paying close attention to a person’s food and nutrition requirements can have a significant impact on care providers’ bottom lines.
Although there is no known treatment for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, some diets may help to postpone the onset of memory loss. Beneficial diets are good news for senior living communities, which are dedicated to keeping residents active and healthy. Administering a healthy diet and nutrition can improve the quality of life for people with dementia in assisted living facilities. In the end, better resident and patient health outcomes are advantageous for the dementia patient as well as the care community in terms of factors like patient satisfaction ratings, reimbursement rates, and lower readmissions.
This article outlines the relationship between food consumption and dementia; and discusses how memory care facilities in Suwanee, GA, can help.
The Relationship between Nutritional Intake and Dementia
Nutritional issues are commonly brought on by dementia. In its early stages, it can make it challenging to go grocery shopping or follow recipes. As dementia worsens, it can cause erratic eating habits, such as skipping meals and forgetting to eat and drink. Eventually, this can lead to issues with using silverware, having trouble chewing and swallowing, and even losing the ability to identify food. All of these factors increase the chance of infection, dehydration, delayed wound healing, muscle weakness, and weight loss.
Nearly half of dementia people lose weight. This not only has an impact on the health of the patient, but also on the community, as evidenced by the increase in hospitalizations, UTIs brought on by dehydration, high antibiotic costs, and readmissions
Problems with nutrition and water are brought on by a variety of challenges faced by dementia patients. Caregivers should be alert to the following indications of a decreased appetite or ability to eat:
- Lack of appetite characterized by the inability to recognize hunger, uncomfortable dentures, medicines, and inactivity
- Cognitive problems including the inability to identify food or drink, problems with concentration
- Difficulties with motor skills, including the inability to direct a fork to the lips, issues swallowing or chewing, and difficulty organizing words and meal requests.
- Sensory issues such as diminished senses of taste, smell, and vision; inability to control thirst; and trouble determining the temperature of food.
- Behavioral issues such as throwing food, bad attitude, wandering, irritability, and loneliness
- Eating behaviors including modifications to eating patterns, preferred foods, and overeating
Effective Measures by Memory Care Facilities
The memory care facilities in Suwanee, GA, improves the standard of care and health outcomes in dementia patients by:
- Providing flavorful yet nutritious meal choices.
- Providing a feeling of comfort and control, by taking into account each resident’s preferences and routines.
- Providing options, such as favorite foods, within the proper boundaries.
- Giving smaller portions frequently.
- Modifying texture by using puréed foods and finger foods, for example.
- Promoting self-feeding with visually appealing dishes and adaptive utensils and equipments.
- Using fortified foods as well as nutrition supplements as required.
- Reducing visual and auditory distractions to create a peaceful dining environment.
- Promoting social interaction between the residents and the caregivers in a suitable manner.
- Providing personalized assistance as and when needed.
Reputed memory care facilities take serious efforts in identifying the underlying issues associated with eating in residents with dementia. They identify solutions and put them into place. This safeguards the bottom line of a care community while also enhancing the quality of life for residents and family members.
