{"id":6950,"date":"2015-12-27T07:07:04","date_gmt":"2015-12-27T13:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=6950"},"modified":"2016-09-15T14:15:19","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T19:15:19","slug":"eatwell-dinnerware-for-dementia-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2015\/12\/eatwell-dinnerware-for-dementia-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Eatwell: Dinnerware for Dementia Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eatwell: Dinnerware for\u00a0Dementia Patients\"Eatwell<\/h1>\n

One of the biggest challenges for dementia patients comes around 3 times a day, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cognitive changes, memory lapses, and mobility impairments can create issues at every step of the mealtime routine, putting dementia patients at increased risk of dehydration and poor nutrition. One of the easiest ways to make mealtimes easier and more filling for these seniors is to give them the right tools for the job\u2014in this case, dinnerware designed specifically for adults with dementia<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dementia dinnerware has evolved as researchers and eldercare providers learn more about what patients need, including angled utensils, no-spill cups, and bright plates and bowls. In 2015, a new option has\u00a0debuted\u2014the Eatwell line of dinnerware<\/a><\/strong> from industrial designer Sha Yao, who spent 4 years studying the mealtime needs of seniors with dementia and who cared for her grandmother with Alzheimer\u2019s. Eatwell <\/span>products<\/span> are Yao\u2019s \u201clast gift\u201d to her late grandmother, and they won the prestigious international Stanford Design Challenge in 2014. Her designs stem from her own studies and dementia researchers\u2019 findings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using visual cues to whet the appetite<\/h2>\n

Researchers and eldercare specialists have known for a while that boldly colored plates can boost food intake, based on research conducted at Boston University a little over a decade ago. That\u2019s why if you search for dementia dinnerware you\u2019ll find lots of red dinner plates. The color red tends to stimulate the appetite, and Alzheimer\u2019s patients in the BU study <\/span>ate<\/strong><\/a> 25% more food<\/strong><\/a> served on red plates than on white plates. <\/span><\/p>\n

For patients whose food intake doesn\u2019t improve with red plates, experts recommend trying blue plates instead. Blue provides a better contrast with red foods such as beets, tomato sauces, and berries, which makes them easier to see and identify as food. Eatwell\u2019s designs combine a blue plate edged with bold red or bright yellow for both high contrast and appetite stimulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting a grip on utensils and the scoop on plates and bowls<\/h2>\n

Fine motor skills decline<\/strong><\/a> in people with dementia, so holding and using regular spoons, forks, and knives can be difficult or impossible. Yao\u2019s utensils feature wide, curved handles for an easier grip, and bright colors for easier spotting. The heads of the spoons are angled to make scraping and scooping food easier, and they fit against the angled sides and bottoms of Eatwell plates and bowls so diners spend less time chasing food around the plate with their spoons. The bowls, plates, and cups are also non-slip to keep them in place during meals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spill-proofing drinkware for better hydration<\/h2>\n

Dehydration<\/strong><\/a> is a common <\/span>problem<\/span> for people with dementia. Swallowing, requesting water, and remembering to drink it can be difficult for some patients. Yao\u2019s cups combine bright colors and non-skid bottoms with other features to make drinking easier. One cup has a specially designed handle for patients with arthritic hands, and another has a no-tip base to reduce spills. <\/span><\/p>\n

An investment in better nutrition and health<\/h2>\n

Dementia dinnerware isn\u2019t cheap. A basic plastic \u201credware\u201d set can cost $35 to $50 at a discount chain or a home healthcare <\/span>shop, and Eatwell\u2019s sets range from $60 to $110 in price. But because dehydration and poor nutrition can amplify dementia symptoms and cause other health issues, a special dinnerware set may be a good investment if your loved one isn\u2019t eating and drinking enough due to motor-skill decline, disinterest and confusion. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eatwell: Dinnerware for\u00a0Dementia Patients One of the biggest challenges for dementia patients comes around 3 times a day, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cognitive changes, memory lapses, and mobility impairments can create issues at every step of the mealtime routine, putting dementia patients at increased risk of dehydration and poor nutrition. One of the easiest ways to make mealtimes easier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2198,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,200,29],"tags":[125,79],"class_list":{"0":"post-6950","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-alzheimers-care","7":"category-families-caregivers","8":"category-caregiving","9":"tag-dementia-care","10":"tag-healthy-eating"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEatwell: Dinnerware for Dementia Patients<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One of the biggest challenges for dementia patients comes at mealtime. 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