Here are some practical tips to help –
Simplify Choices: Offer two options instead of overwhelming them with too many choices.
Stimulate Appetite: Use foods with appealing colors, smells, and textures. For example, red plates have been shown to encourage eating.
Small Portions: Serve smaller, more frequent meals to make eating less daunting.
Routine and Familiarity: Stick to familiar foods and mealtime routines to create a sense of comfort.
Hydration: Ensure that there is always a drink nearby and use a favorite cup to encourage drinking.
Eat Together: Sharing meals can make the experience more enjoyable and less isolating.
Adapt to Needs: If they struggle with cutlery, finger foods can be a great alternative..
Here are some of the menus are hosts cook up!
Cottage pie, green beans & cabbage followed by Chocolate cheesecake with Strawberries & ice cream.
Chicken in Honey & Mustard sauce, New potatoes, Carrots & Green Beans followed by Eton Mess
Baked Salmon with a cream cheese & chive crust, Dauphinoise potatoes & Salad followed by Apple & cinnamon Danish pastry pie & cream
Lasagne, Garlic Bread & salad followed by Warm Chocolate Brownies with Strawberries & ice cream.
Asparagus & prosciutto ham tart. Assorted Salads & homemade potato wedges follwed by Chocolate fudge cake & ice cream Homemade
Steak pie, roast potatoes, carrots & leeks followed by Banana & Baileys trifle
Fish &chips garden peas & bread & butter followed by Lemon tart & Raspberries
Shepherd’s pie, broccolli & carrots followed by Apple & vanilla tart & ice cream
“The importance of eating with others cannot be underestimated. As a widow with few prompts and cues to eat she had lost a lot of weight. Now she eats with others and her smiling laughing face has filled out back to how it was.”
Daughter of one of our Horsham guests
There are many helpful resources on the Internet:
Dementia UK – Healthy eating and drinking for a person with dementia
Age Space – 8 practical tips to help someone with Dementia to eat more
Alzheimer’s Society – People with dementia often experience problems with eating and drinking, but there are ways to help manage these.
Published: 26 March 2025
