My husband 64 and is in 9th year of early onset dementia. he has stoped liking the foods he use to eat and doesn't like any hard foods or crispy like fried chicken acts like he can't chew. But of course he will eat most all sweets. Also he has started using his hands to eat with. Any ideas?
And if he is not chewing you just might have to switch to pureed foods. Or other soft foods or if not pureed then finely minced.
Set his place with just a spoon and encourage the use of the spoon. But if he will not use it then fingers are fine if that is what it takes to get him to eat.
And a side note just like with a toddler any round food should be cut in half (hot dogs, grapes, and the like so that a piece can not get lodged in the throat.)
I eliminated real slippery food so that it would not slide the wrong way. Things like peaches, nectarine, it took one time for a piece of peach to slide down the wrong way for me to eliminate things like that. The last thing you need to deal with is Aspiration Pneumonia.
If possible stop buying/offering him empty calorie “sweets”. There are many types of sweet flavored foods, or foods that CAN be sweetened, that contain protein and some vitamins and minerals.
If he likes the taste, honey and REAL maple syrup are a little more nourishing than plain sugar.
Let him eat with his hands, especially when your goal is to get food into him.
Investigate the use of THC with his doctors.
He is lucky to have you.
as for soft foods creamy peanut butter and jelly/honey grilled or on soft white bread. Egg salad (bread n butter pickles gives a sweet flavor) is soft or deviled eggs. Mac and cheese or mashed potatoes. Just have wet wipes close by. Wishing you strength on your journey. It’s not easy.
Never scold at mealtime - keep things positive.
Avoid conversations about food or meal planning.
Put on music or TV as a distraction.
Don’t overeat in any attempt to get him to eat (speaking from experience!)
Amateur suggestions - if you can add extra eggs and milk into his diet it'll help with his protein intake. French toast cut into strips he could pick up himself, for example (just keep plenty of wet wipes near the table for when things get sticky).
It might be best to consult a dietitian if you have one nearby, or your PCP might be able to recommend one. There is also this link -
https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/food-eating
- which covers the bases, only I think you're probably already doing most of it.
Remember, you can only try. I'm sorry for all you must be going through, do you have support with his care?
Another big problem I am having is he will not go to bathroom( #2) till he starts to go in his pants. Any suggestions?