This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Check with your care physician before making any lifestyle changes that may affect your health. Individual recommendations may vary based on health, conditions, and medications.  

Mealtimes can be a source of joy and connection, but for seniors living with dementia, the act of eating can become a challenge. In this Dementia and Eating Blog Series, we’ll dish up some practical tips to transform mealtimes for your loved one with dementia into positive, nourishing experiences, helping your loved one thrive.

“I’ve stocked the fridge with all of my mom’s favorite foods!” and “I make healthy and delicious, well-rounded meals three times a day just to see them sit there uneaten,” are two common phrases heard from family caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. It is frustrating, time-consuming, and worrisome when trying to do the best for someone you love, and it isn’t helping.

To start our series on dementia mealtime behaviors, let’s discuss why changes in the desire to eat may happen to gain some perspective and perhaps take a little of that worry and frustration off of ourselves. Then we’ll share a few tips on ways to increase that appetite again!

Causes for Lack of Appetite

There can be several reasons why a senior loved one with dementia might experience a loss of appetite. These can range from physical challenges to emotional factors such as:

• Difficulty Recognizing Food or Utensils: Dementia can affect a person’s ability to recognize familiar objects, including food and utensils. This can be confusing and frustrating, leading to a loss of interest in eating.

• Medication Side Effects: Some medications used to treat dementia or other conditions can have side effects that reduce appetite, such as nausea or constipation.

• Depression or Anxiety: These emotional states are common with dementia and can significantly affect a person’s desire to eat.

• Mouth Pain or Difficulty Chewing: Dental problems or difficulty swallowing can make eating uncomfortable and discourage your loved one from consuming enough food.

Tips for Increasing Appetite in those with Dementia

1. Get your loved one a medical exam.  

Connect with a doctor to assess any issues that may be related to mental or physical health outside of the dementia diagnosis. Perhaps your loved one needs their dentures refitted and doesn’t know how to convey that. Perhaps they are depressed or are having reactions to a medication they are on.

Note: It can be difficult to get your loved one to a doctor depending on the stage of dementia or type of diagnosis they have. However, there are many medical services (especially dental) that will come to home-bound seniors for examination. There are also options for video appointments in some cases.

Address the issues that you can. Getting dentures refitted can make a world of difference. Addressing symptoms like constipation or nausea related to medication side effects will increase your loved one’s attention to their hunger.

2. Get some exercise!  

Not only will exercise help with mental wellbeing and sleep, but it will also help keep your loved one regular and increase their appetite! Focus on short walks, mobility exercises, and fun games that can be done from a chair but require movement of the legs or arms and the upper torso!

Read: Exercise & Strength Building Tips for Older Adults

3. Serve finger foods!

Sometimes the larger portion sizes, even of foods they like, can be overwhelming and challenging for someone who is experiencing decreases in appetite or struggles with eating due to dementia. Try creating finger foods that may have been young adulthood or childhood favorites! And try serving them one at a time or in smaller portions.

4. Create a calm space for meals.  

A lot of those caring for mom or dad at home are often in what is referred to as the Sandwich Generation. The Sandwich Generation is described as a time where an adult is taking care of their aging loved ones as well as their children. It can be a busy, stressful, and overwhelming situation. And mealtime doubly so!

However, the effects of anxiety on those with dementia can greatly impact someone’s ability to concentrate on eating, or even their desire to eat. Trying to keep mealtimes calm and enjoyable for all involved whenever possible can help increase appetite and mealtime success.

Get the whole family on board for the effort or, perhaps, structure the mealtime for your aging loved one at an earlier, calmer time with just the two of you.

Memory Care is Prepared to Help with Eating Challenges

Residents in Memory Care communities have the benefit of a staff that understands the challenges of mealtime and experience in identifying issues, redirecting situations, and addressing needs. While mealtime challenges do exist—even in Memory Cares with the most caring and skilled staff— it often gives family members a sense of peace-of-mind knowing that the challenge will be met with care.

Visit our Memory Care communities in Tacoma, Washington; Sparks, Nevada; Medford, Oregon; Beaverton, Oregon; Gresham, Oregon; Woodburn, Oregon; Springfield, Oregon; or Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to connect with a team to discuss a respite stay or move to a care situation that will aid your family in providing the best care for your loved one with dementia.

Check in for our next segment in this Dementia and Eating Series to learn ways to make mealtime a more joyful experience for you and for your loved one with Alzheimer’s.