Proper nutrition and hydration are critical to the health and well-being of individuals living with dementia, yet cognitive and physical changes can make eating and drinking more challenging over time. This page features resources to help caregivers and care providers support safe, enjoyable mealtimes and prevent common issues like weight loss, dehydration, and swallowing difficulties.

Resources

ESPEN guideline on nutrition and hydration in dementia – Update 2024. (2024). Volkert, D., et al. Clinical Nutrition, 43(6), 1599–1626. Available at https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(24)00146-8/fulltext.

  • The 2024 ESPEN guideline update focuses on providing evidence-based recommendations for the nutritional care of individuals with dementia to prevent and address malnutrition and dehydration. It emphasizes routine screening, individual care plans, and the importance of adequate staff and environment in caregiving.

Food and Eating. Alzheimer’s Association. Available at https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/food-eating.

  • This article from the Alzheimer’s Association focuses on how people living with Alzheimer’s often face challenges with eating, such as forgetting to eat, becoming overwhelmed by choices, or experiencing loss of appetite. Tips for managing mealtimes include providing a calm, simple setting, encouraging independence, offering a balanced diet with nutrient-rich foods, and ensuring safety by adapting food textures and monitoring swallowing.

Nutrition and hydration for people living with dementia near the end of life: A qualitative systematic review. (2021). Barrado-Martín, Y., et al. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(2), 664–680. Available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7898342/.

  • This systematic review explores the experiences and views of people living with dementia, their families, and healthcare practitioners regarding nutrition and hydration near the end of life. The review highlights four key themes: challenges in supporting nutrition and hydration, balancing different perspectives on the “right thing to do,” the influence of national and cultural contexts, and strategies for providing care.