The refusal of elderly people with dementia to eat may not be due to a simple lack of appetite. Improvements in hand-held meals, pay attention to the risk of depression and suicide

Xinying Hospital promotes "hand-held meals" in response to the refusal of elderly people with dementia to eat. The main meal is designed into small portions that are easy to take, preserving the dignity of the elderly's independent choice and eating. (Picture provided by Xinying Hospital)

[Reporter Liu Wanjun/Tainan Report] A Japanese study of 208 dementia patients in institutions found that 5.9% "refuse to put food in their mouths." Among the 250 dementia cases currently admitted to the Dementia Center of Sinying Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, elderly people have also been found to refuse to eat. The medical team reminds that the refusal of elderly people with dementia to eat may not only mean a lack of appetite, but also forgetting how to eat and being unable to operate tableware. It may also be related to depression and they must pay attention to the risk of suicide.

Zhuang Yumin, a neurologist at Sinying Hospital, pointed out that dementia may affect memory, executive function and movement coordination, causing the elderly to forget the steps of eating, or feel frustrated because they are not familiar with the operation of chopsticks, spoons and other tableware. Toothache, constipation, infection, delirium, swallowing disorders and drug side effects may also cause food refusal.

Dr. Xu Boyan, Director of the Department of Psychiatry, also reminded that if the elderly repeatedly utter words such as "I don't want to live anymore" and "I'm full and waiting to die" when refusing to eat, they should pay attention to depression and suicidal ideation, further evaluate whether there is a self-injury plan or immediate danger, and arrange emergency medical treatment if necessary. Family members should also avoid blaming or forcing eating and seek professional help as early as possible.

The hospital draws on Japan's experience in nursing care food and promotes "hand-held meals". Dinner meals are designed into small portions that are easy to take, such as sweet potato sticks, egg pancake sticks, soft tofu meals and nutritious chicken meatballs, etc., so that the elderly can eat food directly with their hands, reducing the burden of using tableware and retaining the dignity of independent choice and eating. However, you must still pay attention to swallowing safety. The medical team reminds that round, sticky or elastic food may increase the risk of choking. People with swallowing difficulties should first receive professional evaluation.

The Dementia Center of Xinying Hospital emphasizes that food refusal care requires the integration of neurology, psychiatry, nursing, nutrition and swallowing rehabilitation teams to jointly intervene from physical, psychological to dietary patterns.

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