How Should Patients with Dementia and Food Refusal Be Managed?

Ong Lynn; Foong Wan Ying Deborah; Jeffrey Jiang

The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 49 No. 7 - Persons with Intellectual Disbilities 2

How Should Patients with Dementia and Food Refusal Be Managed?

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Author(s):

Ong Lynn
Foong Wan Ying Deborah
Jeffrey Jiang

Published in:

The Singapore Family Physician Vol 49 No 7 - Persons with Intellectual Disbilities 2

Page(s):

52 - 56

Publication date:

1 September 2023

ISSN:

0377-5305

Abstract

Anorexia of ageing is contributed by physiological changes, comorbidities, medications, and social factors. Food refusal in older adults with dementia is one of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Modifying diet texture, fluid consistency, feeding techniques, and environmental factors can assist in overcoming food refusal. This case illustrates the challenges encountered in patients with dementia demonstrating food refusal behaviour, measures that can be taken to optimise their nutrition, and how these challenges may impact their long-term care.