Define Strategies for to overcome from alzheimer's disease?
Some of these, based on the stage of the disease and individual needs are:
a. supervising meal times with minimal distractions,
b. assessing chewing and swallowing ability and providing foods of appropriate consistency,
c. initiating the activity of eating, by making the person touch or taste the food,
d. giving one food at a time in small bowls so as to avoid stress of food choices,
e. supervising to avoid eating of spill food or inedible items,
f. giving only a spoon or finger foods, in case of inability to use other eating equipment,
g. encouraging individual appropriate feeding techniques,
h. permitting adequate feeding time to increase intake,
i. Use of nutrient dense foods, frequent snacks and nutritional supplements to avoid ' malnutrition,
j. , avoiding finger foods and using only a small spoon in case of tendency to take a large holus, and
k. guarding against aspiration, in case of dysphagia.
To ensure adequate food and nutrient intake, continuous assessment of nutritional status is desirable, supported by behaviour modification, if required. Patient guidance and supervision including continuous verbal instructions during each step of feeding may also be needed, like to eat, chew and stop chewing.