Offering help to the elderlies with dementia taking meals

Abstract

　Symptoms of dementia are divided into two major categories of core symptoms and secondary symptoms (BPSD). Core symptoms consist of cognitive function disorders such as memory impairment, orientation disorder, disturbance of execution function, poor comprehension and poor judgment, aphasia, apraxia and agnosia. These are inevitable symptoms brought about by organic changes in the brain. Taking meals is one of the important daily activities enjoyed by the elderlies. Some elderlies, however, refuse to eat when meals are taken to them and refuse to drink when a glass of water is offered to them. They even refuse to open their mouth when people talk to them and offer help. Or, they may just simply stop taking meals and refuse to use chopsticks. Some elderlies continue to pretend as if they are eating even when there is no food left. In such instances, urging the elderlies to stop their behavior or forcing them to behave in a certain way is not effective. Taking into account that such behavior is caused by core symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to explore ways to assist the elderlies taking meals by making maximum use of what is left of their ability, without leading them into confusion.