Eating Well with Dementia – A Guide for Carers

Mental health dietitians in Lanarkshire identified the need to improve how they shared their knowledge and skills with people supporting individuals living with dementia, to enable improvement in their nutrition and hydration.  This development arose after the department noticed a trend in referrals for people with a dementia diagnosis, who had already experienced a significant decline in their nutritional health.  At the time there were limited user-friendly written resources available which could be provided.  It was felt that timely provision of evidence based, or best practice advice could help to reduce or delay this decline, but also to reduce carer stress. 

Malnutrition, muscle loss and frailty are key factors in reduced mobility, poor wound healing, recovery from infection as well as increased risk of falls and fractures.  Ultimately this can increase risk of avoidable decline in a person’s function, hospital admission and reduced ability to maintain independence for someone living with dementia.  Poor nutrition and hydration can also have a detrimental impact on cognitive function and ability, risk of developing delirium, mood and overall wellbeing.  The impact of this is felt not only be the person with the dementia diagnosis but can often be a source of stress and frustration for people in their lives providing care, who are often family and friends.

Initially a leaflet was developed and produced locally using a question based on the most common questions or issues being experienced.  Following successful use and feedback within Lanarkshire, NDR-UK contacted the department with a view to developing the resource further for national distribution through their channels.  Following discussion ‘Eating Well with Dementia – A Guide for Carers’ was produced.  Collaboration with NDR-UK and dietetics has enabled wider engagement and contribution from users of the resource, health professionals with an interest in dementia care and Alzheimer Scotland.  NDR-UK’s resources also enabled improvement in the look and production of the leaflet. 

Continued support from the Scottish Government has facilitated distribution of the leaflet across Scotland.  The leaflet contains self-directed, practical information enabling it to be shared via health and social care professionals prior to a referral to dietetics being required.  Since the initial production, the leaflet continues to be reviewed to ensure the content and format remain relevant and evidence based.  It remains a valuable resource with over 3000 copies being distributed in the past 2 years across the United Kingdom.

Stimulating Your Senses Group

The mental health dietetic team in Lanarkshire has provided face to face ‘Taste’ sessions to support the Alzheimer Scotland Stimulating Your Senses programme held at the Alzheimer Scotland Resource Centre in Motherwell.  The sessions are aimed at people with dementia and their carers, who may have different types of dementia and are at various stages of their journey, to explore the sensory aspects of their dementia.  The taste sessions are an opportunity to discuss the impact of maintaining good hydration and nutrition, signposting to nutrition resources, highlight the impact that dementia can have on taste sensation and provide practical suggestions on how to overcome this.  It is also a good opportunity for people who attend to meet a Dietitian, ask any general questions about nutrition and gain a better understanding of how dietetics can support them in the future if required.

Connecting You to Support:  Living well with Dementia

Lanarkshire AHP Dementia Group is comprised of allied health professionals from across both the North and South Health and Social Care partnerships in Lanarkshire who have an interest in dementia care, including dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and speech and language therapy.  Previously the group had developed a range of profession specific hints and tips leaflets on topics such as dysphagia, communication, nutrition and hydration, mobility, environment, foot care and daily living for people with a dementia diagnosis.  In 2019 Alzheimer Scotland invited applications for a grant to produce resources to support post diagnosis advice.  Simultaneously the group identified that there was inconsistency in people’s awareness of the hints and tips leaflets we had produced which was limiting their use.  Initially they had been produced in black and white and could only be printed on recycled paper which was not appealing or user friendly.  We knew the hints and tips information was valuable, therefore we applied and were successful for a grant.  The national AHP strategy ‘Connecting People, Connecting Support’ was used as a basis to inform this development. 

Existing information was reviewed and collated into one resource.  Topics were expanded to provide a wider range of information such as work, driving, delirium and attending appointments.  The design was changed to a directory format to enable people to dip and out of the topics as they needed and avoid the information becoming overwhelming.  Support from Alzheimer Scotland enabled the production of the refreshed post diagnostic support advice in Lanarkshire which can be shared with people newly living with a dementia diagnosis.  It is available both locally and nationally via the Alzheimer Scotland website and you can find a copy by clicking here