Appropriate Feeding Techniques for Patient’s with Dementia

This two page document is intended for “in service” type educations with nursing or patient care staff. The handout includes information on Careful Hand Feeding for patients with dementia and decreased oral intake. Careful hand feeding is being touted as an advantage over PEG placement in patient’s with dementia, so these patients they can enjoy the gratification of eating and socialization that comes with meals.

This handout includes information on the following topics:

• Why people with dementia don’t eat as much
• Why we should practice “careful hand feeding”?
• Ways we can best help patients with dementia by careful hand feeding