Meals & Eating
The 24 sources listed below are each rated on how they can help caregivers better understand and manage meals & eating in people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%
Alzheimer Society Canada
Geo Location: All (CA)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
[PDF - 12 Pages] Comprehensive guide to meal times. Additionally, provides a list of strategies for each particular eating or meal time challenge.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent80%
Alzheimer's Society
Geo Location: All (UK)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
This is part 1 of a 7 part series: 1) Eating and drinking, 2) Poor appetite and dementia, 3) How motor and sensory difficulties can affect eating, 4) Eating and common behaviour challenges, 5) Eating environment, 6) Meal preparation and living alone, and 7) UK resources.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%
Alzheimer Society Canada
Geo Location: All (CA)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses how dementia can impact meal time habits and routines. Has 14 questions to ask about the person or setting. Offers 33 tips for improving meal times.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%
Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)
Paula Spencer Scott
Pages 239-252
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
This book uses the 'Why & Try' approach. Covers these challenges: 1) Doesn't eat, won't eat. 2) Forgets having eaten, wants more. 3) Gets disattracted during meals. 4) Messy eating. 5) Won't drink enough liquids.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%
AARP
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Recommendations to increase appetite and consumption. Has 8 tips while preparing the meal. 11 tips on eating environment. 8 tips when serving. 7 tips at the table. Also has 4 top tips.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Crisis Prevention Institute
Kim Warchol
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses why there is a very high risk of weight loss in people with Alzheimer's. Offer 10 tips to maximize intake, reduce weight loss, and minimize supplement use.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Home Care Assistance
Rick Lauber
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Provides 5 reasons why someone with Alzheimer’s may not eat enough. Has 8 ideas to encourage nutritious eating habits. 3 strategies for a stress-free meal. 5 signs of chewing and swallowing difficulties. Plus 7 nutritional tips.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)
Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH
Pages 75-84
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with discussion on caregivers who have not cooked regularly. Looks at meal settings. Explores malnutrition and weight loss. Has a section on choking and first-aid. Plus a practical look at tube feeding.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
The Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver's Handbook
Sally Willard Burbank, MD and Sue Pace Bell
Pages 113-119
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses the dilemma between choosing health food or happy patient. Offers 19 guiding food principles. Dealing with diabetes.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%
Alzheimer's Association
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with 4 basic nutrition tips. Has 5 possible causes of poor appetite. 9 tips to make mealtimes easier. 4 ways to encourage athe person with dementia to be as independent as possible during meals. 3 suggestions to minimize swallowing problems that can lead to choking and weight loss.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%
Dementia Care Central (National Institute on Aging)
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Has a practical discuss about the stages of dementia and an individual’s capability to eat, as well as appetite and dementia. Lists 5 suggestions for caregivers to encourage their loved one to eat and to make meal times less stressful. Has 7 tips on eating in late stage dementia. Also has a link to a video [3:45] on eating assistance for people with dementia.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%
Dementia Australia
Geo Location: All (AU)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Has 6 bullet points why maintaining good nutrition presents extra challenges for a person with dementia. Outlines 9 dietary guidelines. Lists 23 common nutritional problems and what to try.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%
Mayo Clinic
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Lists 3 non-Alzheimer's underlying problems to check for. Recommends that you should acknowledge and adjust to declining skills, senses, and behavioral issues. Has suggestions for maintain a regular routine. Discusses plates, easy-to-handle utensils, and different ways to use them.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good55%
Mayo Clinic
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Lists 5 problems caused by malnutrition. Has 11 causes that contribute to malnutrition in the elderly. 7 ways to monitor nutrition and prevent malnutrition.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%
National Institute on Aging (ADEAR)
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Has 3 tips on buying and preparing food. Offers 6 ways to maintain familiar routines. Also has 3 signs that it is no longer safe for the person with Alzheimer’s to living alone.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%
Elder Care Online
Edyth Ann Knox
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Provides 10 caregiving tip for the early and middle stages of dementia.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%
Crisis Prevention Institute
Emily Eilers & Andrea Anderson
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Offers 4 tips to maintain and build nutritional status in people with dementia.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%
Ahead of Dementia
Luciana Mitzkun
Pages 119-124
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses balanced nutrition. Nutritional needs and dementia. Has 9 tips on eating.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Offers 3 tips to assist individuals living with dementia with the eating process.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%
The Dementia Handbook
Judy Cornish
Pages 43-45
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
First step is to look for underlying emotional need. Discussion includes: failure to recognize hunger, too much on the plate, vision problems, utinsil problems, too much commotion, and hydration.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%
Understand Alzheimer's
Pages 71-74
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Looks at common eating issues. Has 6 tips on helping your loved one get nourishment.
