Understand and Meet the Nutrition Requirements of Individuals with Dementia

1. 1 Describe how cognitive, functional and emotional changes associated with dementia can affect eating, drinking and nutrition? Cognitive: depending on the type of dementia a person has they may have trouble in recognising the food in front of them or not understand that the food provided is for them, they may even view the food in front of them as food. This can be caused by their minds not recognising what is in front of them. Functional: depending on the type of dementia a person has they may struggle to use their knife, fork and spoon, they may even struggle to chew or swallow. This can be caused by the mind forgetting how to do something, or making that task become more difficult to perform. Emotional: depending on the type of dementia a person has they refuse to eat all together, this could be caused by the mind simply telling them they are not hungry or thirsty when they actually are, this can happen quite often and is usually caused by a problem causing them to get upset or angry. 1. 2 Explain how poor nutrition can contribute to an individual’s experience of dementia? Poor nutrition can actually worsen the symptoms of dementia for people. A report states that people with dementia who are undernourished may end up worsening their condition. But poor nutrition can also cause individuals with dementia to need specialised help more often as well. 1. 3 outline how other health and emotional conditions may affect the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia? Dementia can be effected by other conditions that may prevent the individual from eating or drinking: Health – it is quite often for individuals with dementia to end up with Urinary Tract Infection or UTI for short, and while having a UTI the individuals may get more confused or angry causing them to not wanting to eat. Emotional – quite a few dementia suffers end up with depression because of the drastic changes in their life, such as being taken away from your home and your family. Having depression may cause the individuals to not want to eat. 1. 4 Explain the important of recognising and meeting an individual’s personal and cultural preferences of food and drink? Some people have curtain dietary requirements such as being vegetarian or vegan, some religions require you not to eat pork or only eating meet if it’s halal. Even though the individual has dementia they still have these beliefs and it is important to respect that person’s beliefs and choice. . 5 Explain why it is important to include a variety of food and drink in the diet of an individual with dementia? A balanced diet is important to people with dementia because if they do not have a nutritional diet then it can worsen their condition. Weight loss, nutritional deficiencies and inadequate fluid intake can a ll have a negative effect on a person’s dementia. It is the care assistances job to make sure that the individuals get the correct diet they each need. 2. 1 describe how mealtime cultures and environments can be a barrier to meeting the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia? In some cultures, people have strict meal time and meal size restrictions. People who are of Muslim religion fast once a year where they cannot eat when the sun is up, but for someone with Dementia they may think they are fasting when they don’t need to, so end up refusing all meals offered and provided to them. Another example would be that someone with dementia may not see or understand why they have to eat in a particular way, for example, starter, main, dessert. For someone with dementia, their tastes may have changed and might not want to eat meals that are set out for them in a particular way. By sticking to a regular meal time, this can be a barrier to the nutrition they need, because they may not want to eat at the same time as everyone else. 2. 2 describe how mealtime environments and food presentation can be designed to help an individual to eat and drink? Food presentation is very important to people with dementia, because their view on things are different, even though its meal time and other people around them are eating. If it doesn’t look like food they won’t eat it. Make sure that the table cloth is a bright colour and that the plate is a completely different colour, as well as different colour food on the plate. Even though to us there is something clearly on the table for someone with dementia, if there was a red table cloth with a red bowl and tomato soup inside, even though there is something there in front of them, they may not be able to see it. 2. 3 describe how a person centred approach can support an individual, with dementia at different levels of ability, to eat and drink? Treating everyone individually and offering them choices with their day to day life are the best ways to support someone with dementia. Many people with dementia are capable of making choices for themselves. So it is important to offer them different meal choices so they can pick which they prefer. If someone has progressed further with their dementia and are unable to communicate to tell us what they want, then we may need to show them the different options or check their care plans to see what they prefer eating. If none of this is available then you could observe them, If they eat what you provide then you should take a note that they liked it, if they don’t then try them with something else.