Hi from San Francisco

Question
Hello
My name is Sha. I am a graduate student from Academy of art University. I am developing an eating set to help people with Alzheimer's to have a better eating experience.

I am doing research and design at the same time.
Would you like to share some experience with me?

I want to make a eating set including a tray, a special design bowl, plate, water bottle, and a spoon for them. Hope the eating set can help them eat by themselves better to alleviate caring burden and frustration from caregivers.

When I considerate the volume of the cup, the plate, the bowl, I really want to get more understanding about how much food and nutrition they have to get everyday.

Would you like to give me a guild then I can design according to the guild.

Thank you


I also found a research said people with Alzheimer's are more easily to get worse tooth since their sensory are not that good. Sometimes they can not express the tooth pain.

Do you think soft material like silicon spoons are better for them if they have bad teeth or no teeth? (Make them feel better and sometimes they also chew the spoons)Where I can have a chance to ask a doctor about it?

All the best!

Answer
Hi Sha,
I'm glad to see you doing such worthwhile research and hope it works out well for all involved!
Here is a site you can get lots of information from and it is a reliable source: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-nutrition
I hope it answers lots of your questions!

Nutritional needs vary based on people's size, age, gender, and activity level, so there is no general answer for how much nutrition each person with Alzheimer's will need.
This site is a good one for nutritional guidelines: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

One important factor in many elderly people probably applies to many with Alzheimer's disease as well: hydration is very important and people forget to drink if they aren't reminded, and if they aren't provided with the opportunity for a tasty and refreshing beverage--for some people this might be ice water and for others it might be a cup of tea. But the general guideline for fluid ranges from about 6 cups to 8 cups per day. This might be something you'd want to include.

Some people with advanced Alzheimers lose the ability to safely swallow. I believe this is one of the more common causes of death in this group--they cannot send the food down their food pipe because of changes in the neurological system, and food and drinks, and even water, can easily get into their lungs (just like when you might have had something go down the wrong way, maybe if you've coughed or laughed while you're eating) and eventually a pneumonia results. They will lose the sensation to cough when it goes down the wrong way so you can't rely on them to tell you they are "choking" or uncomfortable or have difficulty breathing. Just another factor to consider when you are working with nutrition and Alzheimers patients. In extreme cases the family may opt for tube feedings to provide nutrition when a patient cannot swallow safely. This is evaluated by a speech therapist and you may consider contacting this specialty for more information!

Good luck!
Laurie

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