I am a care giver of a dementia patient. How can i get him to eat his meals?

Question

i am an in home caregiver. He has dementia (Early) He will not let me fix him something to eat when I'm there. Im very worried. Any suggestions? Ive tried everything i know of.

Answer 1

Maybe he thinks you are putting something in his food.

Can he fix his own food & if so let him.

Answer 2

I have noticed with dementia patients that sometimes you just need to do what needs to be done without a whole lot of discussion.  Just go to the kitchen, cook, and put a meal in front of him.  Make sure that you are there when he is eating.  Many elderly don't eat because they do not have the company to eat with.  So bring something for yourself to eat and join him.  Also with dementia, every day events become confusing.  Maybe he doesn't understand what you are doing any why.  Have patience with him.  Do also know that decreased appitite and lack of eating is part of having dementia.

Answer 3

HI

I agree with Molly.

I was a nanny of 4 kids for 5 years & im sure the same applys to dementia  patients,  you give them too many options then they rebel, how ever passive it seems

Answer 4

offer to help him fix his meal and you just supervise that he doesn't put anything wrong in there,the early dementia is very frustrating sometimes the person is aware somethings wrong and resents the suggestion everything needs doing for them.So let him feel he has the reigns.

Answer 5

you can hold his meal and act all s**y like

Answer 6

Wear a disguise. Tell him it's CANDY!!

Answer 7

Try small quantities of his favorite home cooked meals. See if the family can help you in that way at least. Let alone, if he's early enough in it to know he has the dementia, he may be already choosing to die. Most patients when faced with this conflict sometimes have a tendency to do things that speed up the dying process, so they can have it on their terms and take back control. If he understands, you should let him know clearly  that if he doesn't eat he would have to be forced to eat by feeding tubes. Doesn't seem hes bad enough yet for an advanced directive.