Nutritional Requirements of Individuals with Dementia

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Unit 49;Understand and meet the nutritional requirements of individuals with dementia. 1) Understand the nutritional needs that are unique to individuals with dementia. 1.1) Describe how cognitive, functional, and emotional changes associated with dementia can affect eating, drinking and nutrition; Symptoms associated with dementia, can have detrimental effect on individuals, if they are not addressed and resolved. In some individuals, cognitive impairments interfere with the sequences and patterns associated with completing tasks, so, remembering how to use items such as cutlery, drinking cups etc, and the order, or way in which to use them are lost. It can mean that tasks such as making a cup of tea, or a sandwich can no longer be completed. Mobility is often affected in advanced dementia, which may mean individuals, can no longer physically, hold or lift items needed to eat and drink. People can often become withdrawn and depressed within dementia, and often this causes issues around eating, as emotional mood can greatly affect appetite. It can sometimes mean that people do not want to eat, have no will to and lack the function to have, or prepare a meal. However, Dementia can have the opposite effect. Short tem memory issues can often mean that individuals simply do not remember that they have eaten a snack or meal. messages between the brain and stomach are affected, and the sensation of being full is lost. This combined with short term memory loss, can result in an individual constantly requesting food, or stating that they have not eaten for long periods of time When in fact, they have. Some individuals will be unable to recognise the food that they are given, and can forget to eat or drink. The individuals relationship with food throughout their life can also play a part in their nutritional needs when living with dementia. People who may

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