Making Dining Easier

Those with dementia face a lot of challenges. As memory fades, cognitive function deteriorates, and mobility issues arise, even the simplest and most routine tasks can become challenging.

Something as straightforward as following an established routine or getting a button to work can begin to feel complex. In many cases, this results in a dementia patient neglecting steps rather than attempting to stumble through all of the aspects of a task.

The importance of a dementia-safe mealtime

A somewhat rumpled appearance because a step in an ordinary daily routine was missed can be minor and easily corrected by caregivers. However, when it comes to meals, the risk of poor nutrition and dehydration requires that we be proactive and ensure that those stumbling blocks do not prevent folks from getting the nutrients they need from each and every meal.

The mealtime routine is absolutely vital to maintain.

Luckily, there are simple things that can be done to encourage healthy mealtime participation, including offering the right tools for the job.

Visual Cues in Dinnerware

There is brightly coloured dinnerware that has been designed specifically with seniors with dementia in mind.

One thing that the majority of dementia dinnerware has in common is the colour red, and it’s not just a purely aesthetic decision. There is research supporting bright red as the colour for dementia dinnerware.

Red Dinnerware

Researchers discovered that high-contrast red plates led to a 25% increase in eating by dementia patients when compared to their food intake when the meal was offered on white tableware. What was even more amazing is that the increase in consumption of beverages went up by an astounding 84% when the cup was also a high-contrast red.

Dinnerware Design

Dementia dinnerware needs to be bright and colourful with a strong contrast so that it can be seen. It also needs to be easy to maneuver, easy to grasp, and secure enough to prevent tipping and spilling.