If a Care recipient (cr) loses appetite and medical problems have been ruled out as a cause assess nutrition and encourage healthy eating

Try: #assess the cr’s daily calorie intake by planning meals and counting calories or carbohydrates calorie and carbohydrate books are sold in bookstores and available free online weigh the cr weekly so that changes in weight will be noticed they are sometimes hard to observe when we see someone everyday #try offering five or six small meals a day rather than three large meals a day #offer favorite foods #whenever possible sit with the cr for meals #offer a drink with or after each meal depending on whether drinking with the meal discourages the cr from eating talk to the cr’s doctor if medication or swallowing concerns must be considered boost the calorie count of food if necessary by adding powdered milk bananas nutritional supplements or pudding mix to drinks and shakes #when possible offer the cr a choice of foods limit the choice if the cr has difficulty making decisions #if the cr is on a low-sodium diet add zest to the meal by flavoring food with different herbs and spices #set up the cr’s meal in a pleasant clean place offer most meals in that place and keep it clean and uncluttered #offer snacks with activities such as watching television or playing cards but don’t offer activities with meals as the activities distract the cr from eating #make sure the cr is eating a balanced diet that includes protein

Materials: Calorie carbohydrate-counting book powdered milk bananas liquid nutritional supplements pudding mix if necessary herbs and spices if enjoyed balanced diet pleasant uncluttered eating place

Categories: Feeding Eating, Housekeeping Home Maintenance, Meal Preparation, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Weighted silverware can help a Care recipient (cr) who has trouble managing utensils

Try: Look for heavyweight eating utensils that are particularly heavy on the end held in the eater’s palm these will resist being shaken better than lighter weight knives forks and spoons

Materials: Large handled silverware with heavyweight ends

Categories: Feeding Eating, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, No Supervision, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Memory loss distraction and impaired signals from the brain may lead to trouble eating or finishing meals

Try: Serve one course at a time soup or salad main course then dessert serve each food on a separate dish or separate a few foods on one plate make the plate more visible by putting a placemat or tablecloth under it use table linens whose solid colors are in high contrast to the plain dishes

Materials: Plain dishes without patterns or boldly colored designs high-contrast placemat or table cover

Categories: Feeding Eating, Meal Preparation, Memory, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile, No Supervision, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Good Vision, So-So Vision, Poor Vision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Loss of coordination may lead to trouble eating and drinking with regular plates cups and cutlery

Try: Serve each course by itself so Care recipient (cr) isn’t overwhelmed by the whole meal at once use the divided dinner plate to portion out reasonable amounts of food the cr can use the side of utensils to push food against the dividers moving food onto the utensils respect the dignity of the cr by avoiding divided plates designed for children place a piece of rubber shelf lining under the plate to keep it from sliding out of reach or dropping to the floor use the sport cup and straw to serve lukewarm soup as well as liquids only do this if the cr is able to swallow normally if the cr has trouble holding eating utensils make a slit in the tennis ball with the screwdriver and insert the handle of the utensil into the ball the wide ball may be easier for the cr to grasp than a narrow utensil handle

Materials: Divided dinner plate sport cup with straw rubbery shelf lining material tennis ball flathead screwdriver

Categories: Feeding Eating, Housekeeping Home Maintenance, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, No Supervision, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) is unable to drink from a glass without spilling the liquid on his or herself or on the furniture

Try: Purchase a plastic cup with a favorite design or special color that the cr enjoys the caregiver should try purchasing a similar cup and use it around the cr until he or she feels comfortable using it and doesn’t feel like he or she is different or singled out look for plastic cups with lids that seal well to prevent spillage but can be sipped from easily

Materials: Colorful plastic cup with lid straws

Categories: Feeding Eating

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) has difficulty swallowing fluids without choking

Try: Be sure to check with a doctor to assess any physical problems try having the cr eat popsicles to help avoid dehydration try freezing instant breakfast mixes once mixed or nutrition shakes they take on an ice cream or milk shake texture make sure to check nutritional content of such shakes against the cr cr’s restrictions and needs try using one of several available food thickeners designed for people with problems swallowing these are flavorless substances you add to water or other fluids which turns them thick like gelatin or milkshake thick depending on how much you add and can prevent such liquids from being aspirated by the cr

Materials: Popsicles instant breakfast mixes or pre-mixed nutrition shakes food thickener such as thick-it

Categories: Feeding Eating, So-So Taste, Poor Taste, So-So Touch, Poor Touch

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) with visual impairment needs assistance pouring hot beverages into cups without causing burns or spills

Try: Use one of these small battery operated devices which hang over edge of virtually any cup to keep the cup from getting too full when pouring a liquid in the sensor buzzes or beeps to let cr know that the cup is nearly full this gadget is useful in any container and works for cold liquids as well as hot

Materials: Musical or buzzing liquid alert device

Categories: Feeding Eating, Safety, So-So Vision, Poor Vision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) has a difficult time eating due to some paralysis or loss of tactile sensation but would like to remain as independent as possible

Try: To make eating easier cut food into manageable but still recognizable pieces place plate guard on side opposite to the cr cr’s dominate hand usually on the left side this gives the cr a surface to push food against to get it on the spoon or fork make a washable bib that stays in place string together a thick comfortable shoelace between two alligator clips similar to what they use at a dentist dentist’s office make a liner the same size as the washcloth out of the trash bag clip both the washcloth and the liner together with the alligator clips to form a bib the liner should be facing up use a small piece of double-sided tape to hold the bottom of the liner down the liner can be replaced as it wears out and the bib can be washed as many times as needed

Materials: Alligator clips need 2 get them from craft store or hardware store need the kind with loops on the ends so you can attack a string to them wide soft shoe lace terrycloth hand towel thick plastic trash bag double-sided tape plate guard

Categories: Feeding Eating, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Some Supervision, So-So Touch, Poor Touch

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Tips to help a visually impaired Care recipient (cr) maintain independent eating

Try: Set up the plate cups and utensils telling the cr where everything is located as you do always set up the same way for each meal attach a plate guard or food bumper to the plate this helps prevent food from being pushed off the plate an alternative is to use a shallow bowl or a lipped plate to put food on describe the position of the food on the plate using clock hand positions example the peas are at 3 o’clock try to always put similar foods in the same position be prepared to give verbal cues throughout the meal to help remind cr where things are until he or she gets used to the system

Materials: Plate guard or food bumper shallow bowl or inner-lipped plate

Categories: Feeding Eating, So-So Vision, Poor Vision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) has poor nutritional intake due to normal aging changes in smell and taste

Try: Ensure the cr has good oral hygiene try brushing teeth before meals to promote freshness which promotes eating thoroughly cleanse dentures thoroughly cleanse mouth before returning dentures to mouth encourage cessation of smoking and alcohol abuse which can effect smell and taste sensation and lead to mouth dryness encourage use of sugar-free gum and candy to increase salivation artificial saliva may be considered encourage use of seasonings other than salt to flavor foods such as lemon spices and herbs provide fluids with meals since saliva production decreases with age be sure colds and nasal congestion are treated as they reduce sense of smell and appreciation of appetizing odors of food

Materials: Oral care products such as toothbrush toothpaste and mouthwash sugar free gum and candy low-sodium spices and seasonings

Categories: Feeding Eating

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed