What Can Contribute to a Good Mealtime Situation for Dementia?

Creating a good mealtime situation for someone with dementia requires planning, adjustments, and a calm environment. Changes in appetite, difficulties using cutlery, and reduced ability to recognize food can make meals challenging. Here are some key factors that contribute to a positive mealtime experience.

1. A Calm and Safe Environment

A stress-free and predictable setting is essential during meals. People with dementia may become anxious due to noise or movement around them. Some helpful strategies include:

• Soft lighting and soothing colors to reduce sensory overload.
• Avoiding background noise such as TV or loud conversations.
• Using a consistent seating arrangement to create familiarity and comfort.

2. Clear and Simple Table Setting

Keeping the table simple and easy to navigate helps the person focus on their food. To improve the mealtime situation:

• Use contrasting colors between the plate and the table to make the food more visible.
• Serve one or two items at a time to avoid overwhelming the person.
• Remove unnecessary objects from the table to minimize distractions.

3. Adapted Food and Serving Style

People with dementia may struggle with chewing, swallowing, or handling cutlery. To make eating easier:

• Offer soft and energy-dense foods if appetite is low.
• Serve finger foods, such as sandwiches or vegetable sticks, if cutlery becomes difficult to use.
• Adjust drink consistency by using thickened liquids if swallowing issues arise.

4. Supportive and Patient Mealtime Companions

Social interaction during meals can make a significant difference. To create a positive experience:

• Eat together to make the meal feel natural and reassuring.
• Allow plenty of time so the person can eat at their own pace.
• Encourage without pressure, for example, by demonstrating rather than correcting.

5. Regular Routines

People with dementia benefit from structure and familiarity. To establish good routines:

• Keep consistent meal times every day.
• Serve familiar and preferred dishes to increase comfort.
• Ensure meals take place in the same location for a sense of security.

6. Personalized Adjustments

The most important thing is to adapt to the individual’s needs and make changes as necessary. Observe their reactions and modify the mealtime situation accordingly.

By focusing on a calm environment, a simple table setting, adapted food, supportive companionship, and consistent routines, you can create a better mealtime experience for someone with dementia. Small changes can make a big difference and help meals become a safe and enjoyable part of the day.

Sensorem’s personal alarm has GPS positioning, medication reminders and automatic fall alarm

Sensorem’s personal alarm is an example of a technical aid specially developed for people with dementia. The personal alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app. Relatives are automatically called by the personal alarm (two-way communication) if the user leaves a predetermined geographical area. The personal alarm also has medication reminders, which means that the watch emits a sound and tells the user that it is time to take their medication. The personal alarm can also alert automatically in the event of a fall with the built-in fall sensor.