HealthFlex
×
  • About Us
    • Services
    • Partnerships
    • Resources
    • Financial Considerations
  • Georgia
    • Tapestry House Assisted Living
    • Tapestry House Memory Care
    • Insignia of Newnan
  • Other Communities
    • Miramar Living
    • Residence
    • Villa Serena
    • Insignia Caparra
    • Insignia Panamá
  • Care Alternatives
    • Where to begin
    • Daily Life
  • Jobs
  • Contact us

¡Llama hoy! (787) 244-6551

Call today! (787) 244-6551

Please call (678) 234-1074 for more information

Please call (678) 234-1074 for more information

Please call (678) 378-8419 for more information

Why We Serve Dessert First

Why We Serve Dessert First
20 March, 2017InsigniaMoments of Joy2

How to Stimulate Appetites for Seniors Suffering from Dementia

Seniors suffering from any of various forms of Dementia often have trouble eating. Keeping them at healthy weights is a difficult task for caregivers, as the progression of these illnesses makes it increasingly harder for patients’ senses to kick in when it comes to ingestion. They may not fully taste meals or even recognize signs of appetite or hunger as the disease stages progress.

So how do we at Insignia encourage seniors with dementia symptoms to eat? We serve dessert first!

Picture this: You’re 7 years old and your mom has just served you dinner. You’re hungry, but the broccoli and carrots on the plate seem less than appetizing. You share your disdain for the dish and your mom says: “If you don’t eat your dinner, you won’t get dessert later!”. So what do you do? You regretfully dig in and eat all those yucky veggies just so you can have some yummy sweets later. Sound familiar?

As adults, we typically learn to appreciate and even like vegetables for their taste and nutritional value, along with a plethora of other healthy foods. But dessert – whether that’s a fruit salad or an ice cream cone – is always a treat to look forward to, even if it’s just on cheat days. And on very special days, just like when we were kids, having dessert first seems like the most delicious way to treat ourselves.

Lisa Myers, our Executive Director at our Savannah Memory Care community, was caring for an ailing 103-year-old woman with a progressed stage of dementia who was refusing to eat. In her last days, Lisa asked her what she wanted to do with her time left. The woman answered “eat my dessert first”, as during her youth, her parents had never allowed her to do so. For her, eating dessert first represented a special moment that she couldn’t remember having enjoyed during her early years. And so, during her last days, she ate her dessert before every meal.

Lisa was in a conundrum at the time. Residents’ weights in the community were down and she was wondering how to stimulate their appetite. She remembered the joy that eating dessert first had brought the 103-year-old resident and after consulting with the house physician whether this was a healthy move, she decided to serve dessert first to the residents who were having a hard time eating or refusing meals altogether. Of course, desserts served would have to be customized per the residents’ health needs. For instance, diabetic seniors would get sugar-free desserts.

To Lisa’s delight, most residents not only ate their dessert, but continued onto eat their regular meals, as their palettes had been stimulated and they were reminded that they were hungry.

Nowadays, Insignia of Savannah always serves dessert first. Residents look forward to meals at the community, as they know that they’ll get to be a little naughty and break the rules that were enforced on them throughout their childhood.

So, if someone in your life is suffering from a dementia related illness and is having trouble eating, give it a try! Serve dessert first.

Comments

Mike Gorday Log in to Reply
24 August, 2017

Lisa is absolutely amazing! She has developed an amazing relationship with the residents at Insignia of Savannah. They love her and I love her. Great job Lisa!!!

Mike Gorday Log in to Reply
24 August, 2017

Lisa is an amazing asset to the residents of Insignia of Savannah. She has such a special way of caring for those who deserve the tender loving care that she gives. Great job Lisa. We love you!!!

Add Comment Cancel

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Posts

  • Loneliness and COVID
  • The Top Five Health Concerns of Seniors Now
  • Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s – They are not the Same.
  • How to choose homes for Alzheimer’s patients?
  • A Different Kind of Memory Care for Georgia Seniors

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • August 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • March 2016
  • February 2016

Categories

  • Diet
  • Fitness Consulting
  • Moments of Joy
  • Motivation
  • News
  • Recipes
  • Senior Living Choices
  • Sin categoría
  • Videos
  • Weight Loss

Learn more about Insignia

Insignia Senior Living is a family owned company deeply rooted in the hospital and healthcare industries, whose primary focus is to provide seniors safe and joyful environments where seniors feel loved and valued. Insignia owns and operates senior communities throughout Georgia and Puerto Rico. Services include senior living, assisted living, memory care, and temporary care.

Find a Community

  • Georgia Senior Communities
  • Puerto Rico Senior Communities

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Insignia Blog

Latest Articles

  • Loneliness and COVID Feb 9

    We have all learned that staying close to home and...

  • The Top Five Health Concerns of Seniors Now Feb 9

    People in America today can expect to live longer than...

  • Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s – They are not the Same. Jan 27

    Many people are confused by these terms. Dementia and Alzheimer’s...

Copyright © 2021. Insignia Senior Living. All rights reserved.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy