Dementia specific Dining

[michael79]

My facility wants to offer a more dementia friendly food service program. I have been elected to the committee. Anyone have any ideas or resources on dementia friendly dining? I know all about offering finger foods, but there are only so many sandwiches that you can offer. What are some other ideas???

[Marymoomoo]

When I worked in LTC, our dietary tried offering foods that were popular when our residents were younger, and traditional Southern foods. It went over really well, especially with our weight risk residents. :)

Popular items:

Pinto beans and corn bread

breakfast items (Pancakes, biscuits, gravy, grits, sausage, bacon, eggs, etc)

beanie weenie (baked beans w/hot dogs)

pigs in a blanket (hot dogs or sausage wrapped in a biscuit and baked)

boneless fried chicken

salmon patties

Spam (yes, really!)

fried potatoes and onions

creamed corn

creamed spinach

spaghetti or spaghetti pie

hamburger steak

hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes

peas and carrots

green beans and potatoes

broccoli with cheese sauce

broiled cabbage

pork tenderloin

BBQ pork cooked super tender and pulled

chicken and dressing

chicken and dumplings

meatloaf/meatloaf sandwiches

swedish meatballs

chicken with egg noodles and vegetables (basically chicken noodle soup without so much of the soup)

tuna noodle casserole

chili

grilled cheese

fried balogna sandwich

tomato sandwich

pizza

anything in a sandwich, wrap, or pocket form

bite sized pieces of foods they can dip

fresh fruit (especially bananas)

fruit pies

fruit smoothies

ice cream

nutty bars (Little Debbie--crip wafers with pb covered in chocolate)

Good luck! :)

[Candyheart]

The unit I work on uses alot of adaptive equipment, as everyone has posted. We also feed some people. Some times if we put some nutrition drink and some icecream on their"lap buddies" they will eat it. People who will gladly eat place mats, napkins, and protective lotion will turn up their noses at food as if you are trying to poison them. It's always an interesting experience at meal times.

[achot chavi]

The unit I work on uses alot of adaptive equipment, as everyone has posted. We also feed some people. Some times if we put some nutrition drink and some icecream on their"lap buddies" they will eat it. People who will gladly eat place mats, napkins, and protective lotion will turn up their noses at food as if you are trying to poison them. It's always an interesting experience at meal times.

Yes isn't it funny how they will suck the life out of their fingers and protest when you pull them out and put good food instead.

QUESTION: at what point do you consider an N-G tube or a gastro tube?

[Candyheart]

On our memory care unit, there are no tube feedings. When a person has progressed in their disease to the point they stop eating altogether, they pass on. A NP once called it a "celetial discharge" as none of the residents will ever be able to be discharged to their homes. I thought that was a great way to think about death. We love our residents but their disease have left just a shell of their former self.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Yes isn't it funny how they will suck the life out of their fingers and protest when you pull them out and put good food instead.

QUESTION: at what point do you consider an N-G tube or a gastro tube?

I'm not a believer in putting someone without any quality of life who's tryng to die on a tube.

[hippylady7211]

What about pop tarts, popcicles, carnation instant breakfast, Cream of wheat in a cup thinned out with lots of warm milk and sugar.

Burritos, chicken fingers, fish sticks, have a juice bar where you can add sherbet and whip up a healthy shake, slices of pizza, "egg mcmuffins".

Hard boiled eggs, carrot/celery sticks, granola bars, slices of watermelon, grapes. :nuke::nuke: