Our role in nutrition and malnutrition
As Dementia Action Week approaches , Wiltshire Farm Foods looks at how occupational therapists can support the nutritional needs of those people we are working with who are living with dementia .
Above : David Jones with Wiltshire Farm Foods ’ Purée Petite Spaghetti Bolognese
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eople living with dementia are often more vulnerable to developing malnutrition , which can be preventable with early discovery and intervention .
One study classified malnutrition risk according to dementia severity and found that 35.3 % of those with mild dementia were malnourished according to the MNA and MNA- SF , compared with 60.3 % with severe dementia ( Bourdel-Marchasson et al 2009 ).
In the early stages of dementia , a change in food intake may not be obvious or even problematic to the person or their caregivers . However , in advanced and more severe stages , people living with the condition may lose the ability to recognise their hunger and thirst cues , as well as develop the inability to feed themselves , due to apraxia or cognitive decline ( Hanson et al 2013 ).
Other factors that contribute to poor nutrition for people living with dementia include food disinterest , difficulty recognising familiar objects and confusion . As dementia progresses , dysphagia – also known as swallowing difficulties – becomes more common . Difficulties can include the person chewing continuously or simply holding food in their mouth . Dysphagia can lead to weight loss , malnutrition and dehydration , according to the Alzheimer ’ s Society .
Occupational therapists can get a real understanding of how service users live , often gaining valuable insight into their dietary preferences and habits . If relayed on to the relevant healthcare professionals within their multidisciplinary team , this could contribute to the formulation of a highly specialised care plan individuals are more likely to follow .
It may be that the service user needs to be referred to a speech and language therapist ,
34 OTnews April 2024