Why a Patient refuses to eat
To make eating less overwhelming for a dementia patient, caregivers should offer smaller, more frequent portions or this type of food that can be eaten by hand.
What are finger foods?
This type of medication, frequently used for dementia or Parkinson's, is a common culprit for appetite loss.
What is antipsychotic medication?
True or False: Forcing an elderly person to eat will help them live longer.
False
Before feeding a resident, the CNA should always check for this condition to prevent choking or aspiration.
What is the correct diet order
This oral health issue, ranging from sores to improper fit, makes chewing uncomfortable and causes refusal to eat.
What are denture issues (or dental pain)?
Due to a decrease in vision, using these colored, high-contrast items can help a senior better see their food.
What are plates (or dishes)?
This term describes a condition where an elderly patient has a general decline in physical, cognitive, and functional status, including not eating, which hospice often helps with.
What is Failure to Thrive?
True or False: A dementia patient's preference for food may change, often preferring sweets over vegetables.
True
Residents who have difficulty swallowing may need this special diet texture to prevent choking.
What is a mechanical soft or pureed diet?
This mental health condition, often overlooked in the elderly, can cause a significant decrease in appetite.
What is depression?
This, a "sweet" strategy, is often used to get a loved one with advanced dementia to take in necessary calories.
What is serving ice cream (or pudding/sweets)?
When an elderly patient completely stops eating and drinking, it often signals that they are in this stage of life.
What is end-of-life (or dying)?
True or False: If a patient is not eating, it is more important to monitor for dehydration than for hunger.
True
This position helps prevent choking and aspiration when feeding a resident.
What is Semi-Fowler’s/ High Fowlers
For a dementia patient, this common, uncomfortable gastrointestinal issue can occur due to a slow-down of the digestive system and cause appetite loss.
What is constipation?
If a senior says they have "already eaten," this approach is more successful than arguing with them.
What is not arguing (or validating/offering a snack later)?
This is a crucial, non-food method to maintain comfort when a dementia patient is refusing all food and liquid.
What is swabbing their mouth (or moisturizing lips)?
If a resident refuses food and fluids for an extended period, CNAs must monitor for this dangerous condition caused by loss of body fluids.
True (Dehydration)
If a resident repeatedly refuses food or eats very little, the CNA must report it to this person.
What is the Staff Nurse
In Alzheimer's patients, the brain can lose the ability to create these signals, leading to a failure to recognize hunger or thirst.
What are appetite (or satiety) signals? [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
To combat loneliness and improve intake, a caregiver should try doing this at the same time as the patient.
What is eating with them (or sharing a meal)? [1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10]
Regarding nutrition at the end of life, most experts advise against using these because they can cause discomfort and do not increase lifespan.
What are feeding tubes? [3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13]
A mentally competent adult patient has the legal right to refuse food and fluids, even if that decision will hasten their death.
What is true.
A geriatric elderly patient cannot be clinically diagnosed with malnutrition because they have sufficient energy stores."
Malnutrition in seniors is often about nutrient deficiency, not just calorie count. A patient can be overweight but still suffer from severe muscle wasting and vitamin deficiencies.