{"id":345636,"date":"2025-10-31T09:29:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T09:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/?page_id=345636"},"modified":"2026-01-30T14:58:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T14:58:04","slug":"diet-for-dementia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Diet for dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDiet for dementia\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\"Diet\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n\n \n \n

Does a good diet make a difference?<\/h2>\n \n

For someone living with dementia, a healthy, balanced diet is key.<\/p>\n \n \n

Working on a person\u2019s health and diet when they live with dementia should not be limited according to how the disease affects them. Diet and dementia symptoms should be monitored by carers to ensure that the person they\u2019re caring for is getting all the nutrients they require.<\/p>\n

Encouraging a person to eat, and to eat the right things, can be hard. However, a balanced diet and dementia symptoms should be seriously considered when a care plan is put together. The care plan should include a diet catered to the customer and how they eat their meals. Being aware of their eating environment can make a big impact on the person\u2019s eating habits, helping them to feel more comfortable as they eat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n\n
\n \t\t\t\n\t\t
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n\n \n \n

A high-protein diet<\/h2>\n \n

A high protein, high calorie diet is often recommended for people with dementia.<\/p>\n \n \n

As poor food intake can result in significant weight loss, frailty and loss of mobility, it\u2019s recommended that people with dementia follow a diet containing increased protein and calories. This can also help prevent cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.<\/p>\n

Because of the importance of a controlled diet for dementia patients and the great difference it can make to our customers, where relevant, diet is included in the Helping Hands care plan, which is overseen by our in-house nutritionist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n\n
\n \t\t\t\n\t\t
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n \n
\n
\n\n

Diet and dementia \u2013 nutritional and mealtime tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few techniques you can employ to help a loved one with dementia to eat regularly and healthily. Here are a few pointers to help improve your loved one\u2019s nutritional intake if they\u2019re living with dementia:<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Have regular meals<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

Aim for regular meals at regular times to help the individual get into a routine<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Avoid tea with meals<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n
\n

Avoid drinking tea with meals \u2013 the tannin in tea stops the absorption of iron in food<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Eat little and often<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

If food intake is poor at mealtimes, aim to have a snack mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Recognisable foods<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n
\n

Aim for foods that are obvious shapes and colours \u2013 for example, chicken and separately placed vegetables are more obvious than a plate of cottage pie and gravy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Allow time<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n
\n
\n

Allow plenty of time for each meal \u2013 however if eating has stopped at 30 minutes, clear everything away \u2013 leaving cold or unappetising food can be distressing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Less refined sugars<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Cut down on foods with refined sugars, and limit foods with high saturated fat and cholesterol \u2013 as well as meals that contain a lot of sodium and salt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n
\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/div>\n\n
\n\n \n

\n Variety is the key to increasing food intake. People can eat 50% more if there is variety. Try using these principles with everyday meals: offer a variety of tastes, textures, colours and smells and serve the food on the right crockery and in a comfortable environment. We train our dementia carers to use these methods to great effect. <\/p>\n\n \n

\n Caroline, Nutritionist <\/p>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n \t\t\t\n\t\t
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n \n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\n
\n \n
\n
\n\n

Dementia dining \u2013 how to create the right eating environment<\/h2>\n\n\n

\n Creating the right environment for eating is essential for anyone with dementia. <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Extra noise, an uncomfortable chair and bad lighting are all obstacles which we can help them overcome. Here\u2019s an essential guide to supporting your loved one with happy and nutritious mealtimes:<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Cut up food<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

If the person struggles with crockery – cut the food up for them but encourage them to feed themselves with a fork or a spoon or even use their fingers<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Use identifiable crockery<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

Use easily identifiable crockery and cutlery and use the same each day for each meal \u2013 aim to use a large plate \u2013 plain in colour and ideally with a coloured edge<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Contrasting colours<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

The plate should be a contrasting colour to the table. Also, studies have shown that people eat more food if a white plate is used rather than a black plate.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Avoid distractions<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

Avoid any distractions \u2013 turn off the TV and any background music<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Move the plate<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

Move your loved one\u2019s plate so it is in their eyeline and easy to reach<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Remind them to chew<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

People with advanced dementia may need reminding to chew and to swallow<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Eat slowly<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

If you\u2019re eating together, try to eat slowly so the person doesn\u2019t feel pressured to eat fast<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Check temperature<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

Someone with dementia is unable to gauge temperature, so make sure it is not too hot<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n
\n \n Encourage them<\/span>\n <\/h5>\n \n
\n

The individual may not recognise or understand what hungry or thirsty is so always encourage them to eat<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n \n
\n
\n\n

Find out more about dementia care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We try to make arranging care simple and stress-free so that we can focus on what really matters: your care needs. Speak to our team today to begin your journey.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n <\/use><\/svg>
\n

Speak to our team\u200b<\/h3>\n

Our friendly, knowledgeable team can answer your questions and talk you through your options. We are available 7 days a week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n <\/use><\/svg>
\n

Book a free care assessment<\/h3>\n

Your local Helping Hands care manager will visit you to understand your needs and preferences and discuss how we can help. We can visit you at home, in hospital or even a care home to carry out the care assessment.\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n <\/use><\/svg>
\n

Confirm your care package<\/h3>\n

We create a tailored care plan for you to review. Once you’ve agreed the plan, we can organise care in as little as 24 hours.\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n Speak to a care professional today <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n 0000 000 0000 <\/span>\n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/span> \n\n \n \n Request a callback <\/span>\n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/span> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n \n\n
Page reviewed by\u00a0Caroline Redman, Dietitian and Health Expert<\/strong>, on July 18, 2019.<\/h5>\n\n \n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0,"medium_featured_image":0,"small_featured_image":0,"extra_small_featured_image":0,"footnotes":""},"page_category":[766,752],"class_list":["post-345636","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","page_category-dementia-care","page_category-home-care-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDiet & Dementia: Does it make a difference? | Helping Hands<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read our advice on diet and dementia, including diet recommendations, health and well-being advice and support for dementia sufferers and their families.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Diet for dementia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Read our advice on diet and dementia, including diet recommendations, health and well-being advice and support for dementia sufferers and their families.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Helping Hands\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-30T14:58:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/\",\"name\":\"Diet & Dementia: Does it make a difference? | Helping Hands\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-31T09:29:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-30T14:58:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"Read our advice on diet and dementia, including diet recommendations, health and well-being advice and support for dementia sufferers and their families.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Diet for dementia\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"Helping Hands Home Care\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Diet & Dementia: Does it make a difference? | Helping Hands","description":"Read our advice on diet and dementia, including diet recommendations, health and well-being advice and support for dementia sufferers and their families.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Diet for dementia","og_description":"Read our advice on diet and dementia, including diet recommendations, health and well-being advice and support for dementia sufferers and their families.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/","og_site_name":"Helping Hands","article_modified_time":"2026-01-30T14:58:04+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/","url":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/","name":"Diet & Dementia: Does it make a difference? | Helping Hands","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-10-31T09:29:14+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-30T14:58:04+00:00","description":"Read our advice on diet and dementia, including diet recommendations, health and well-being advice and support for dementia sufferers and their families.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/home-care-services\/dementia-care\/diet-for-dementia\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Diet for dementia"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/","name":"Helping Hands Home Care","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/345636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345636"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/345636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":394366,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/345636\/revisions\/394366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"page_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page_category?post=345636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}