Understand and meet the nutritional requirements of individuals with dementia

Unit aim

This unit is about understanding that individuals may have specific nutritional needs because of their experience of dementia. Learners will develop their knowledge and skills in meeting these nutritional requirements and be able to provide evidence of their competence to enable individuals with dementia to eat and drink well.

Outcome 1 Understand the nutritional needs that are unique to individuals with dementia

1. describe how cognitive, functional and emotional changes associated with dementia can affect eating, drinking and nutrition

2. explain how poor nutrition can contribute to an individual’s experience of dementia.

3. outline how other health and emotional conditions may affect the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia

4. explain the importance of recognising and meeting an individual’s personal and cultural preferences for food and drink

5. explain why it is important to include a variety of food and drink in the diet of an individual with dementia

Outcome 2 Understand the effect that mealtime environments can have on an individual with dementia

1. describe how mealtime cultures and environments can be a barrier to meeting the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia

2. describe how mealtime environments and food presentation can be designed to help an individual to eat and drink

3. describe how a person centred approach can support an individual, with dementia at different levels of ability, to eat and drink

Outcome 3 Support an individual with dementia to enjoy good nutrition

1. demonstrate how the knowledge of life history of an individual with dementia has been used to provide a diet that meets his/her preferences

2. demonstrate how meal times for an individual with dementia are planned to support his/her ability to eat and drink

3. demonstrate how the specific eating and drinking abilities and needs of an individual with dementia have been addressed

4. demonstrate how a person centred approach to meeting nutritional requirements has the well-being of an individual with dementia