Helping Your Loved One Eat

Today’s insight discusses helping a loved one with dementia eat — how to keep your loved-one feeling in control, even in the later stages of dementia.

Transcription of Video:

Hi, I’m Deb Nygaard with Arthur’s Residential Care with today’s Insights from Arthur’s.

I’m here with Kate Jabe. Kate is the supervisor here at Arthur’s Residential Care. And today’s Insight is about helping a person with dementia to eat. 

I’ve talked before about a hand position where you have the hand of your loved one with dementia on top. This is a position of  power and authority. And so in this scenario we’re fooling Kate’s mind into thinking that she’s in charge here. As a person loses the ability to feed themselves, one of the ways that we can help them to be in charge is to keep their hand on top. 

Watch this very carefully. My fingers are controlling the spoon here. This takes a little bit of work to figure out — you’re going to have to practice this. Now I can help her take a bite, and she feels like she’s in charge. She’s a part of that. I can put down the spoon, I can pick up the glass, I’ve still got her hand, and she still feels in charge.

I’m Deb Nygaard with Arthur’s Residential Care.

Contact Deb Nygaard
Director of Development
Arthur’s Residential Care: 651-429-4798