Dementia Services Development Centre, 2009

This guide for care workers is designed to raise awareness of the eating and drinking difficulties faced by people with dementia. It provides details of problems likely to be encountered on a daily basis and outlines practical ways to overcome them.

It shows that, in many cases, a few simple measures – from gaining knowledge of a person’s likes and dislikes and dietary requirements, to making mealtimes and enjoyable experience, can ensure access to good food and drink.

The guide offers tips to care workers on helping someone with dementia to eat – from how to stay calm and flexible to involving them in meal and snack times – and advises how to maintain the individuality of those receiving care with dignity, respect, empathy and patience.

Exercises, multiple choice questions and discussion points have been included at the end to check the reader’s level of understanding of the subject.