Homecraft Queens Angled Cutlery
Although similar to other adaptive utensils, with easy to grip, wide handles, the Homecraft Queens Angled Cutlery also features an ergonomic angled design. Seniors that find it challenging to position their cutlery will discover that this angled design is much more supportive for their mealtime needs.
Homecraft Queens Angled Cutlery offers both left and right-handed angled options. However, since Homecraft Queens does not provide a set, utensils such as a spoon and fork must be purchased separately.
Frequent Attempts To Pick Up Food With Fingers
When a person frequently tries to pick up foods with their hands, finger foods would likely be beneficial to them! A person with dementia may make an attempt to pick up foods that are typically eaten with a utensil, like mashed potatoes, for example. This is a loud-and-clear signal to change to finger food options.
Promoting Independence At Mealtimes For People With Dementia
For people with dementia, eating and drinking can become challenging as the dementia progresses. Dementia can cause difficulties with co-ordination and remembering the processes or sequences involved with eating and drinking. These difficulties can make mealtimes slow and drawn out.
It is up to us to identify what the difficulties are and not make the assumption that they do not wish to eat.
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Itioned Scoop Plate With Lid
The Partitioned Scoop Plate is ideal for bedridden people in a wheelchair or experiencing limited hand mobility. It comes with a removable lid for storing. The high-raised sides enable users to scoop food onto their adaptive spoon or fork with ease, and the spill-proof lid allows caregivers to carry food to bedridden patients safely. Another great feature is the three compartments designed to keep foods separated and for storing in the refrigerator. Its available in Red for Alzheimers patients and Sandstone.
Stimulation: Rail Carriage Lcd Wall Feature
What is it? A wall backdrop that includes an LED screen to recreate the experience of classic train travel
How can it help? Founder of RemPods, Richard Ernest, secured £100K of Dragons Den funding when he took his innovative therapeutic products on the BBC show in 2013. His designs and products are all aimed at improving the quality of life for those living with dementia, including this rail carriage interactive wall feature. The wall decoration can be installed on any blank space to create the feel of an authentic train carriage via a replica framed window with an LCD screen in it, all set in a wallpaper background. The screen plays hours of scenic countryside footage moving by to mimic a train ride and the pop up environment it creates is designed to soothe and provide visual stimulation for those with dementia.
Where to buy it:www.rempods.co.uk
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The Best Ever Adaptive Dementia Eating Utensils
Posted by Steve Moran | Oct 12, 2015 | Life Enrichment
Finger foods just got a whole lot more interesting!
It seems as if almost every time I go to a pitch event there are one or two bright young entrepreneurs pitching the next great adaptive device and a good number of them have to do with eating. Its a reasonable thing to tackle and these devices can help people.
Features Of Our Adaptive Utensils
- wide, flat, high-quality plastic handles with large finger holes to make them more ergonomic.
- set consists of a fork and spoon which come with their own carrying pouches to take along to restaurants.
- utensils come with a detachable wristband, so that if you drop your utensil, it won’t fall to the floor.
- All eating utensils are dishwasher-safe.
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Utensil Problems: Model How To Use Utensils Or Offer Finger Food
We should expect our loved ones and clients experiencing dementia to eventually forget what eating utensils are and how to use them. Model use of the fork, spoon, or knife. When modeling stops being helpful, begin presenting foods in mouthful-sized pieces that can be eaten with the fingers. While eating together, chatter about what you are eating and how good it tastes.
Special Supplies Adaptive Utensils
Light yet durable, these easy to hold adaptive utensils by Special Supplies Store will help aging adults losing strength and the ability to grip utensils regain their confidence once again at mealtime. This non-weighted, non-slip four-piece set comes with a fork, knife, dinner spoon, and soup spoon for all of your mealtime needs.
Additionally, the wide grip handles have unique textured grips to improve dexterity and control, ideal for those with hand tremors, Parkinsons, or arthritis. Caregivers and aging adults alike will appreciate that this supportive stainless steel set is dishwasher safe and comes in several pleasing colors.
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Dementia And Not Eating: Look For Unmet Emotional Needs First
Here at DAWN, we always look for underlying emotional needs first. Any behavioral problem can result from feeling disempowered, embarrassed, confused, or at risk. So empathetically watching your loved one or client and then addressing the emotional need prompting the behavior is always the first step. Once youve ruled out emotional needs, here are a few more things to watch for.
Eat Small All Day Long
Contrary to what we believe, we do not need 3 main meals a day. Research shows that there is no major differences between 3 regular meals a day, 2 large meals a day or 5 little ones. In fact 5 little meals can help to regulate steady blood pressure which is an added bonus.
If you can only get your parent to eat small amounts, thats not a problem as long as this is at regular periods throughout the day. Its all about finding what works best for you.
Eating smaller portions can also benefit people living with dementia who have difficulty swallowing. Difficulty swallowing is a symptom of some types of dementia, including Alzheimers and Lewy Body Dementia.
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The Wrong Approach Often
I was chatting the other day with Sarah and Stone, the co-founders of Grind Dining, a Senior Housing Forum partner, about the whole dining experience for residents with dementia. They feel strongly that in many cases maybe most cases the use of adaptive or specialized equipment for dementia is the wrong approach for at least two reasons:
The adaptive devices are too often child-like, undignified, and cumbersome. They look and feel unnatural. Instead of enhancing the experience of dining, the devices actually serves to diminish the enjoyment of eating a meal. The resident is distracted with juvenile crayola-crayon colors or utensils that must be strapped on over a wrist like some awkward bracelet. Watching residents use these devices conjures up images that speak of the horror of aging and dementia. By forcing our own will and belief of what is socially acceptable in todays well-mannered and polite society has proven a burden to those who find eating with utensils frustrating and challenging due to their cognitive or physical limitations.
They are often not very effective. It makes US feel better because we want to believe that we are doing everything we can to adjust them to their handicap and making it easier for them to eat just like other normal diners.
But both Sarah and Stone argue that nothing is actually better. A bold statement, but Stone says, The Best Utensils In The World Are The Ones You Were Born With.
Regain Independence With These Top 10 Adaptive Eating And Drinking Aids
Elderly seniors and people living with these life-changing conditions lose their ability to feed themselves. They have to rely on family members or caregivers to help them eat and drink. The good news is, people living with these conditions can regain their independence and self-reliance with these top 10 adaptive eating and drinking aids!
KEatlery Weighted Eating Utensils for Parkinsons and Essential Tremors
These weighted eating utensils come with a weighted fork, spoon, knife, and soup spoon designed to look like regular utensils. The weight of the utensil holds the hand steady when eating, stirring, or cutting food. Each utensil features finger indentations for a comfortable, ergonomic grip and the soup spoon has a deeper bowl to eliminate spills. This weighted utensil set is ideal for people living with Parkinsons, Essential Tremors, or trembling hands due to aging. Use them for dining at home, or take them with you for dining out! Theyre stainless steel and dishwasher safe!
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Scooper Plate With High Rim And Suction Cup Base
With its unique features, the Scooper Plate is a must-have for anyone with a limited range of motion, including elderly seniors or children. The high rim, along with the reverse curve on one side, helps users scoop food onto their eating utensil without spilling, while the suction cup base keeps the plate from sliding off the table. Its dishwasher safe and affordable!
Adaptive Dinnerware For Seniors With Alzheimers
For elderly patients and those affected by Memory Loss, well-designed dining products fill crucial needs. At their best, these products can make daily life simpler for people facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s.
By using the best available adaptive dinnerware, caretakers can leave their diverse wards with the human dignity people need and deserve. Bibs for seniors minimize the amount of damage caused by the occasional spill while Plate guards provide further protection for quieter, less complicated mealtimes.
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Dementia Can Cause A Failure To Recognize Hunger: Prompt Them By Eating With Them
People experiencing dementia can lose the ability to either feel hunger or interpret it and understand what to do about the feeling. Inviting a loved one or client to eat with you because you feel hungry will be more successful than telling them they need to eat.
We always eat with our clients. Its unnatural and awkward to sit and eat while someone stands by. We also ask our clients to help usto sample tidbits as were preparing the food and join us in deciding on seasoning or ingredients. Eating together and working as a team to prepare the meal increases companionship and a sense of value. Its important to give our loved ones a chance to help us, instead of always being the one who needs help.
Weighted Utensils And Built
Utensils with a larger grip or handle make grasping easier, and are ideal for users with weakness, tremors, and decreased dexterity.
The wider area puts less stress on the small joints of the hand, and doesnt require as much grip strength.
Weighted utensils aid in stabilizing tremors resulting from conditions like Parkinsons disease, providing necessary proprioceptive feedback for the tremors symptomatic of these sorts of conditions.
Larger, built-up handles are available to add to your existing forks, knives, and spoons, or can be purchased as pre-configured utensils.
They come in a range of weights and sizes to better fulfill the individual requirements of each unique user.
The built-up, weighted utensils often offer a selection of various surfaces for the grip, such as a smooth texture for comfort, contoured shape to better fit the hand, or a textured surface that improves grip and ease of manipulation.
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> > > Breaking: Scientist Finds 1 Way To Fix Alzheimer And Memory Loss
A doctor will perform a physical exam to evaluate your mental processes. He or she will also ask you about any medications youre currently taking and any stressful situations youre facing. Your memory loss provider may also ask you about your symptoms and ask you to take notes on how youre feeling. The doctor may recommend that you get an appointment with a neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist can help you figure out the best way to treat your memory loss.
A doctor will conduct a physical exam to determine the exact cause of your memory loss. He or she will also ask you about your medical history and whether youve experienced other forms of memory loss. After your medical history, your provider will discuss your options for treatment. If youre experiencing severe symptoms of memory loss, you should seek out a professional. It will help you get the right kind of care for your specific situation. So, take action today.
A healthcare provider will perform a physical exam to assess the condition of your memory. He or she will ask you about your family and friends and any medications youre taking. Once he or she has established the root cause, a proper treatment will be given. If you have a mild form of memory loss, you can still function independently and perform everyday tasks. If your symptoms are more severe, you may need to see a medical professional.
Finger Food For Dementia: Tips To Promote Dignity
There are a few things to consider when preparing and serving finger food for dementia patients. Ease of use, safety and dignity are important factors. Be sure to grab your FREE copy of theand check out these dementia-friendly tips to help you get started:
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From Our Family Experience
It was in this area I clashed with the doctors directly … My mother’s one pleasure towards the end was sucking on a ‘Mentos’ candy. The Doctor told me I should stop “… as she may choke.” I figured it was her one thing left that made her happy so I continued without any incident.
Another situation I found myself in was both my Mother and my grandmother pretty much stopped eating anyting … I was able to get her to eat Ice-cream on most occassions but the doctor insisted I force her to eat something substanstantial for her health … My response was pretty blunt ” I would NOT force my mother to do anything and if that meant she ate just Ice cream so be it …” While I could appreciate what the Doctors were saying and that they had sworn an oath to maintain life … I was more interested in maintaining her ‘Quality of Life’ … In fct i said to the doctor at one point … “what’s the point in her dying Healthy … we are past that I think!!!”
Health Monitoring: Guardian Ii Wearable Elderly Dementia Care Support With Gps And 2 Way Calling
What is it? Stay Safe, Independent and Active at all times with the CPR Guardian II medical alert watch.
How can it help? The CPR Guardian is a discreet comfortable elderly alarm bracelet designed to keep the wearer safe, independent and active at all times. It is an emergency alert system with a built-in emergency assist button, a heart rate monitor, mobile phone and GPS tracking.
The GUARDIAN II is a GPS tracker that provides you and your loved ones with peace of mind and reassurance knowing you can always be there for them whenever they need you. The guardian II could quite easily be the best medical alert system for dementia sufferers and those who support them.
Where to buy it:www.cprguardian.com
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Colorful Tableware Helps Alzheimer’s Patients
Brightly Colored Plates, Utensils Help People With Alzheimer’s Eat More
The finding comes from researchers including Tracy Dunne, PhD, former postdoctoral fellow at Boston University’s Gerontology Center and the Geriatric Research and Education Clinical Center of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford, Mass.
Significant weight loss affects 40% of people with severe Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression and eating difficulties have been viewed as possible explanations, but a recent study suggests that vision problems might be a factor. The ability to see colors diminishes with age, and people with Alzheimer’s often have a hard time seeing contrast, which can make it tough to distinguish “a plate from a table setting, food from a plate, or liquid from its container ,” say the researchers.
The study is published in the recent issue of the journal Clinical Nutrition.
Dunne and colleagues studied nine elderly men with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. The men were on average 83 years old and scored 3 out of 30 on mental status exams.
The researchers measured how much each participant ate daily. Then the men were served meals on white plates, white cups, and stainless-steel silverware for 10 days. Next, they used bright red tableware and cutlery for 10 days.
The men ate about 24% more food and drank almost 84% more liquid with the red tableware compared with the white tableware.
Contrast appears to be the key, not color.
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Unsure What To Do With A Fork Or Spoon
The process of picking up the utensil, loading it with food and using it to eat can be a challenge for some people with dementia. Finger foods allow a person to continue feeding themself, without the extra distraction or confusion of utensils. Some people may also be resistant to feeding assistance, making handheld foods even more important.
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Cuffs Holders And Straps
In addition to adaptive utensils, there are a variety of cuffs, holders, and straps designed to help users more easily feed themselves.
Also known as universal cuffs because they can be used to hold other items like toothbrushes or pens, theyre generally configured as adjustable bands or straps that fit across the palm of the hand, with a small pocket for the utensil handle on the palmar surface of the cuff. This provides a secure and stable position for the utensil.
Universal cuffs come in various sizes and configurations, and are often helpful for users with Parkinsons disease, arthritis, those recovering from a stroke, and anyone else facing challenges with grasping and holding small objects.
They can be great for people still looking to use their traditional utensils, or for those dining out who may not want to bring their own adaptive fork and spoon.