Dementia patients at risk of malnutrition
<p>Part of the tragedy of dementia is that sufferers often quickly lose the ability to do basic tasks like simply eating a meal. Sadly, as a result, many find themselves malnourished and dehydrated as they are unable to communicate their needs to others. This is neither the fault of the patient nor their caregiver, but it is something we need to talk about.</p>
<p>Defined as either over- or under-nutrition, a <a href="http://www.alz.co.uk/nutrition-report" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">recent study by Alzheimer’s Disease International</span></strong></a> found almost 45 per cent of dementia sufferers will experience significant weight loss in a year and another report found almost 60% were at risk of malnutrition.</p>
<p><strong>Signs of malnutrition include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Dull, sunken eyes</li>
<li>Pale skin, particularly the lips</li>
<li>Decreased skin elasticity and slow-healing wounds</li>
<li>More confusion than usual</li>
<li>Fast and unexplained weight loss</li>
<li>Thinning hair</li>
<li>Decreased physical strength</li>
</ul>
<p>Factors which may contribute to malnutrition include a refusal or inability to eat, the patient not remembering whether or not they have eaten and the carer not providing adequate meals.</p>
<p><strong>3 ways to prevent and treat malnutrition:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Create an eating plan – many aged care facilities do this already, but if you have fears for your loved one’s health, you might suggest a new nutrition strategy yourself or engage the services of a nutritionist specialising in aged care.</li>
<li>Introduce new vitamins and supplements to their diet – if you can’t monitor their meals, another good way to ensure they’re getting the right nutrients is with vitamins and supplements. We recommend liquid or powder formulas such as Sustagen or Ensure.</li>
<li>Monitor nutrition from the onset of the disease – save yourself and your loved one strife down the line by ensuring they’re receiving adequate nourishment from the moment they’re diagnosed. Forming early habits and making sure they continue is essential for dementia sufferers.</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you have any secrets to healthy eating? We’d love to hear them! Simply add a comment below.</p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
<p><a href="/health/mind/2016/05/the-diet-that-can-reduce-risk-of-dementia/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to eat to cheat dementia</strong></em></span></a></p>
<p><a href="/health/caring/2016/05/communicating-with-people-with-dementia/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Communicating with people with dementia</strong></em></span></a></p>
<p><a href="/health/mind/2016/04/photo-series-shows-dementia-battle/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Beautiful photo series captures the pain of dementia</strong></em></span></a></p>
