Nutritional Challenges of Dementia

1. Nutritional Challenges of Dementia • Presented by: • Pam Polk, RD, LD Healthcare Account Mgr.

2. Objective • Discuss nutrition interventions to help maintain optimal nutritional status & hydration status at different stages of Dementia

3. Est. 24 MM people living with some type of dementia • By 2015 could be epidemic numbers • Many types of Dementia – Alzheimer's main type we hear about

4. Most Important Goal: • Prevent weight decline • Maintain hydration

5. General Symptoms • Loss of interest • agitation • Withdrawal • Changes in eating habits • in hygiene / self-care habits • Repetition

6. VERY IMPORTANT!! May be difficult for them to express pain…. Only indication of PAIN may be that they stop eating • Rule out other things that might be causing changes in weight, behavior, etc. • Poor dentition • Mouth sores • Limited use of extremities • Diabetes • Heart Disease • CVA • Depression • Constipation • Agitation

7. EARLY STAGES • Goal: hydration, nutrition, independence • Few interventions • Confuse foods with non-foods • May have to alter environment • Low tolerance for new ideas (menu changes, etc.)

8. EARLY CONTINUED • SYMPTOMS: • food intake • cereal consumption • sweets • Excessive sodas ( in caffeine may have incontinence, agitation) • Forget to eat or drink (or forget they already have) • May have weight loss or weight gain

9. EARLY CONTINUED • RESULTS: • Vitamin deficiency What looks like dementia?? UTI Low Potassium Low B12 Low Iron

10. EARLY STAGES • INTERVENTIONS: • nutritious foods • fluids • Simple menus

11. LUNCH Dessert: Yellow Cake with Chocolate Icing Fresh Fruit Pudding Ice Cream (Vanilla, Strawberry, Choc) Sherbet (Lime, Orange, Rainbow) Beverages: Milk (1%,2%, Whole, Skim, Choc) Juice (Orange, Grape, Cranberry, Apple, Prune) Iced Tea (Sweet, Unsweet) Hot Tea Coffee Entree: Roast Beef Turkey Cacciatore Chef Salad“ Catch of the Day” Sides: Mashed Potatoes with Gravy Seasoned Rice Zucchini Seasoned Sugar Snap Peas Vegetable Beef Soup w/ Crackers Dinner Roll Garlic Bread Bread (white / wheat)

12. MIDDLE STAGES • GOAL: • Nutrition • Hydration • Weight maintenance

13. General Symptoms Forget to eat Not find way to dining room Forget table manners Forget they have already eaten caloric needs due to walking Unable to recognize utensils sugar intake smell effective communication LATER MAY HAVE CHEW / SWALLOW ISSUES

14. MIDDLE STAGES • INTERVENTIONS: • Finger foods • Season and color on foods • Small plates to prevent being overwhelmed • Serve one item at a time • Don’t over stimulate

15. Finger Food Examples • Cheese Sandwich Bites • Vegetable Sticks • Baby Carrots • Dressing Balls • Brussels Sprouts • Sliced Apples • Sliced Peaches • Broccoli • Baked Potato Bites w/ Sour Cream for Dipping • Sliced Peaches • Chicken Salad Sandwich Bites • Meatball Bites and Rotini • Banana Bites • Meats cut into Bite – Sized Pieces • Gravy and Sauces on the Side for Dipping • French Fries • Green Beans • Roll / Bread • Cake Bites • Pineapple Chunks • Breaded Squash Bites • Rotini Pasta • Cookies

16. Finger Food Examples • Cabbage Wedge • Fresh Fruit • Cheese Sandwich Bites • Vegetable Sticks • Baby Carrots • Dressing Balls • Brussels Sprouts • Sliced Apples • Hot Cereal in Mug • Soup in Mug • Buttered Biscuit • Corn Fritters • Fruited Gelatin Cubes • Brownie • Sweet Potato Bites • Chicken Salad Sandwich Bites • Meatball Bites and Rotini • Banana Bites • Hot Cereal in Mug • Soup in Mug • Buttered Biscuit • Corn Fritters • Fruited Gelatin Cubes • Brownie • Sweet Potato Bites

17. LATE STAGES GOAL: Maintain weight Dignity Quality of life

18. LATE STAGES Chew / Swallowing Difficulty May pocket food Forget to chew or swallow Refuse food Not recognize food Weight loss

19. Know / Understand the Resident • Resident may not be the best source • L/D/A • Environment: • May have decreased attention span • Problems focusing

20. Communicate clear, calm, neutral tone • Consistency • Well-lit area • Avoid patterns on table cloths/ china • Extra time to eat • Have only needed utensils at the table

21. STAFF • Well-trained staff can calm agitated residents and make meals pleasurable • Monitor resident self-feeding • Verbal & tactile cueing • Name, eye contact, compliment • Calorie dense finger foods • Coach to use utensils • Remind to chew / swallow • Encourage independence • BE POSITIVE ABOUT THE MEAL (even Puree)!!

24. Hydration

26. Water plays a CRITICAL role in these body functions: • Transfer nutrients and oxygen to cells • Acts as a solvent for most nutrients • Remove waste from cells • Lubricant in joints • Regulate body temperature • Prevent constipation • Assist digestion & absorption • Maintain blood volume

27. Sources Liquids are most obvious source Solids do provide some water

28. Reasons elderly have decreased fluid intake: Fear of incontinence Not like taste of water Thirst mechanism decreases with age Chronic illness interfere with normal eat & drink Alcohol increases fluid requirement Decreased renal concentrating ability Do not conserve water well Handling cups is difficult

29. Risk Factors: Confusion Fever Diarrhea Bed bound Previous episodes of dehydration / vomiting Diuretics Aspiration High protein diets

30. Symptoms: Fatigue Thirst Headache Dry nasal passages Dry cracked lips Overall discomfort Swollen tongue Mental confusion Decreased skin turgor Constipation • UTI • - Fever • - Decreased appetite • - Nausea • - Changes in lab values • - Decreased BP • - Urine concentration