Essen, Trinken und Demenz

This specialized book for nursing, dietetics, and care gastronomy professionals discusses and demonstrates how to make the life activity of "eating and drinking" an essential element of person-centered care. Experienced nutrition therapist Lee Martin describes how simple and affordable means can promote and maintain the ability to eat independently. Due to the declining cognitive and executive functions in people with dementia, their nutritional abilities change, which can lead to malnutrition and contribute to sarcopenia and frailty. Impaired nutritional abilities can also exacerbate feelings of helplessness and social isolation. Lee Martin's research-based practical manual illustrates how to utilize mealtime situations to improve food intake in various settings of elder care and care gastronomy, meet nutritional needs, facilitate social contacts, and enhance the enjoyment of eating. The practical guide for dementia-friendly nutrition explains the physiological foundations of eating, drinking, and food intake, shows how to create a comfortable and friendly environment for eating and drinking, describes how to effectively use dining utensils and aids for food intake, demonstrates how to make eating a communal experience that strengthens the self-esteem and self-awareness of people with dementia, and explains how to professionally handle chewing and swallowing difficulties.