The following tips can help in the dining room
- Eat together
- Allow plenty of time to eat
- Keep the table setting simple (no table decoration)
- Limit distraction
- Be flexible with food preferences knowing the preference food might become the disapproved food and can change again
- Try softer food, such as yoghurts, eggs and puddings
- The caregiver needs to use the resident’s arm to feed them (try hand-over hand feeding). Placing your hand around theirs and lifting both of your hands to the person’s mouth.
- Mixing the protein with mashed potato help patient to swallow better
- The caregiver needs to stand, while feeding this will make swallowing easier
Possible causes of poor appetite
- Not recognizing food
- Poor fitting dentures
- Medication
- Decreased sense of smell and taste
