Posted on January 20, 2010 - by Nurse Virginia

Caregiver Tips: When the Elderly with Alzheimer’s Disease are too distracted to eat

Restaurant might be first time elder appears too distracted to eat

Many families have told me that they started seeing problems with their loved one, when they would go out to eat.. When you have a distraction problem, the noisy environment of a restaurant is often too much for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. It might be too loud, dishes and utensils clattering, people talking, music playing and people walking around.

Persons who wear hearing aids often turn down the volume on their aid while in a restaurant because of the increase in background noise. Background noise is very easy for the elderly with dementia to be distracted by.

Six ways to help the elder focus better while eating:

• The person with Alzheimer’s disease might just need a rest time before a meal so that they can be more attentive during the meal.
• Mealtime should in a quiet calm environment – this wouldn’t be the time to have the TV on.
• A regular routine – eating at the same time, sitting in the same place so that everything looks the same.
• Have the elder come to the table when everything is ready so the person can see the food and know it is time to eat.
• Sitting poorly and too far from the table may cause a distraction – especially for the elder in a wheelchair. Whenever possible transfer the elder to a regular chair for meals.
• Conversation is good if pleasant, this wouldn’t be the time for tablemates to discuss problems or have loud angry conversations.

Most of all a person with Alzheimer’s disease needs someone who is interested in them and paying attention to them.

Make sure everything is ready and available so the caregiver doesn’t have to get up and down. Having the caregiver getting up and down causes a distraction, right when the elder needs the total attention of the caregiver.

Virginia Garberding, R.N.

Director of education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com