Our food has a unique ability to bring families and friends together and create lasting memories. From special occasions like birthdays and holidays to everyday routines, food can play a central role in our lives. Alzheimer’s activities that involve food can be both effective and creative, tapping into the power of this universal connection.
By doing food-related activities, they can be a wonderful way to connect with someone with dementia. These activities will help to engage all of the senses and may help spark memories or create new ones. Here are some activities that you may want to try: cooking together, baking cookies, making a salad, going for a picnic in the park. Always try to remember to pick an activity that is safe and enjoyable for a loved one with dementia.
- Decorating. By frosting cupcakes and remembering the treats Mom made for school events or birthday parties. By rolling out cookie dough and using cookie cutters and sprinkles to make them festive for an upcoming holiday, while talking about past holidays
- Preparing. By deciding to prepare a fruit salad.Gather together some fresh strawberries, juicy watermelon, tangy pineapple and some sweet grapes. When you are washing and cutting up the fruit, take the time to ask a loved one or a senior you are assisting what fruits they enjoyed as a child.
- Storytelling. By pulling out an old cookbook and by going over all the recipes together. When going through the pages, start to talk about the memories that come with the recipes. A senior may remember that during the war how they were rationing food and the difficulties that they came across. A loved one may tell a story about the first recipe they made when he or she was first married and how it was a complete disaster. If a loved one has a recipe that is one of their favorites, try making it together.
When it comes to preparing mealtime, it is important to engage all the senses. Take a moment to appreciate the aroma of a chicken roasting in the oven, or the smell of bacon being cooked. The smooth and soft texture of the bread dough that you are kneading. Having a plate that is visually appealing that also tastes delicious is also important to remember. Always try to encourage conversations that connect your loved ones with food and their cherished memories.
When a family member has dementia, they can often lose their appetite and lose interest in food. By engaging in activities that are centered around meals and treats can help to bring back the joy of eating together.
For additional dementia care tips and resources, please reach out to Amy’s Helping Hands, the top provider of home care services in Windsor, Ontario and the surrounding areas. You can contact us at 519-915-4370 to request dementia care resources or to book your free in-home assessment.
