Hsc303 Answers

1.1 Describe how cognitive, functional and emotional changes associated with dementia can affect eating, drinking and nutrition?

if a service users cognitive ability is no longer there, which means there process to know or understand, they could not know how to eat or drink, for example you may think they've had there drink but unknowingly to you they have tipped it away, and leading on to there functional ability they may have forgotten how to use there knife, fork and spoon so they could struggle to feed themselves or not be able to at all for that matter which in response could make them feel agitated and distressed effecting there emotional well being.

1.2 Explain how poor nutrition can contribute to an individual’s experience of dementia?

For an individual that's got dementia,

if they not having the right nutrition and vitamins it won't be good for them as for anybody for that matter, but it can effect them mentally and emotionally by them getting upset and stressed. if a person with dementia doesnt have the right nutrient they could also serverly lose weight, as it helps with how we see, think and feel as a whole.

1.3 Outline how other health and emotional conditions may affect the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia?

some medications can make someone lose their appetite, or if a service user is suffering with depression, this can make them lose their appetite or just lose their interest in food, which also won't help there conditions. Or even social isolation can create a lack of interest in meal times and eating. or just even the forgetfulness due to the dementia.

1.4 Explain the importance of recognising and meeting an individual’s personal and cultural preferences for food and drink?

Recognising and meeting and individuals needs, then it will make them feel more valued, and still be a part of there culture, it may help them stay interested in food and drink and bring back memories for them.

1.5 Explain why it is important to include a variety of food and drink in the diet of an individual with dementia?

It's important that they get the correct diet with everything they need in it, all the vitimins and nutirition they need, it will help them stay healthy and maintain there body weight,

2.1 Describe how mealtime cultures and environments can be a barrier to meeting the nutritional needs of an individual with dementia?

They may not be use to such crowded areas with many people like there is in a residental dining room, which could put them off there dinner, or they just may not like the food what's on offer, they also may not be able to use the equipment provided to feed themselves.

2.2 Describe how mealtime environments and food presentation can be designed to help an individual to eat and drink?

A quiet enviroment, may help them concentrate on eating, also food presentation for example if they have to have a pureed diet then they can use food utensils to shape the food into what its meant to be instead. e.g peas. shapes them into peas. so it looks more appertising. Service users may even prefer to eat in there rooms at a time that suits them, which is fine if it helps them eat the correct diet.

2.3 Describe how a person-centred approach can support an individual, with dementia at different levels of ability, to eat and drink?

We can do things to help, such as looking in the service users care plan to find out more about them maybe there favourite foods, or example if they use to have fish and chips every friday, then they can have that on a friday, and it may bring back memories for them, a service user is also assessed to see if they need anything like a plate gaurd for example to keep there diginity abit more while at the table as it helps all the food stay on the plate. or see if they need special knifes and forks which they can hold

easier.