Common Struggles with Mealtimes for Those Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease

By Kevin Edwards | April 20, 2020 |

Are you caring for an elderly adult that is struggling with Alzheimer’s disease? Maybe your loved one just received their diagnosis. No matter what stage of this disease your loved one is in, they might experience some struggles. The more that you and your loved one’s elder care providers learn about these struggles, the more you can help your loved one.

Reduced Appetite

Elder Care Shawnee KS - Common Struggles with Mealtimes for Those Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease — Elder Care Shawnee KS – Common Struggles with Mealtimes for Those Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease

One of the most common struggles that many people with Alzheimer’s disease have is a reduced appetite. The main reason for this is because someone with this disease might not recognize when they are hungry. Another reason for this is because of medication side effects. If your loved one is experiencing this symptom, it is important to find ways to pick their appetite back up. It could be different from one person to the next. Two of the things that might help are to make mealtimes fun or get them their favorite foods.

Oral Health Problems

Many people with Alzheimer’s disease struggle with oral health problems. They might get gum disease. Their dentures might not fit any longer because they have lost weight. The problem is that your loved one might not be able to properly explain why they aren’t eating. However, if you can figure out the oral health problem they are experiencing and get it fixed, this might help them to eat better.

Reduced Attention Span

Those with Alzheimer’s disease have a reduced attention span. Due to this fact, your loved one might have a tough time sitting and focusing at mealtimes. They might become easily distracted. In addition, if your loved one is also experiencing anxiety or agitation, on top of the reduced attention span, this can make mealtimes even more difficult. It is vital that you or your loved one’s elder care providers make mealtimes as distraction-free as possible.

Coordination Issues

Eventually, your loved one is going to experience issues with their hand-eye coordination. This is going to make mealtimes even more difficult for them. They might not be able to move the fork from their plate to their mouth. This is when they might need assistance with eating. Without extra assistance, your loved one might not be getting the nutrition they need.

These are some of the common struggles with mealtimes for those who have Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one is experiencing issues with mealtimes, be sure that you do what you can to help them out. You can help them eat, make mealtimes distraction-free, find the cause of their oral health issues, and more.

Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-eating-and-alzheimers-disease

If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elder Care Services in the Shawnee KS area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City, today. Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass Counties in Missouri as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years. Call us at 816-333-3322.

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Kevin Edwards

Owner at Elder Care of Kansas City

Kevin’s life and the lives of his immediate family have been impacted by caregivers – either as a patient or a caregiver - for as long as he can remember.He watched his mother take care of his grandmother until her death at the age of 97.Five years later, his father passed from a neurological disorder that was subsequently confirmed as Lewy Body Dementia.In 2007, his wife, Lori, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.The symptoms of Lori’s disease required Kevin to hire a caregiver during the periods of her relapses.

Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.

Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.