Home Health Care in Woodbridge VA: Finger Foods Easier For Alzheimer’s Patients

One of the biggest struggles with Alzheimer’s is getting your parent to eat.  As cognitive function decreases, multiple food options can frustrate your parent.  If vision is affected, foods can disappear onto the plate.  For example, a piece of cabbage may be harder to pick out on a green plate.  Manual dexterity changes, and it may be hard for your mom or dad to manipulate a fork and knife.

Some issues are fixed by changing the color of the dishes or cutting food items up before serving.  Other issues require more insight.  One of the ways you can get your parent to eat is by serving finger foods that cover all of the food groups in one shot.

Here are some ideas on foods for an Alzheimer’s patient…

Antipasto

Arrange steamed shrimp, Italian meats, fresh mozzarella, roasted vegetables, and olives on a plate.  Your mom or dad can pick up and eat appealing foods for a snack.  Add slices of baguette to turn it into a full meal.

Cornish Pasties

Cornish pasties are a staple in England.  The meals were designed to make it easy for miners to carry with them and eat without needing any dishes.  Chop up some meat and vegetables and saute them until tender.  Cut a hand-sized portion of pie crust or puff pastry and place a mound of the filling on top.  Fold it over, seal the edges, and bake.

Finger Sandwiches

Spread cream cheese onto two pieces of bread.  Toss thinly sliced cucumbers with salt and pepper.  Layer cucumbers over the cream cheese and then top with another piece of bread.  Cut these sandwiches into four sections and then cut each of the four sections in half.  You can mix and match fillings as desired. Just make sure to cut them into the finger-sized sections.

Fruit Kebabs

Cube some fruits and soft cheeses.  Thread them onto cocktail picks or small skewers.  Apples and cheddar go well together.  You could also pair edam cheese with pears or grapes with fontina.  For sharper cheeses, like blue cheese, add a drizzle of honey to pair sweet with tangy.

Never leave your mom or dad to eat alone.  Join them for the meal.  Seniors need companionship, especially at meals.  If you cannot be there at meal times, hire a caregiver.  Not only can a home care professional help your mom out with bathing, grooming, and housework, but the caregiver can also prepare finger foods for your parent’s next meal.  Call a home care agency to discuss other helpful services.

If you or a loved-one are considering home health care in Woodbridge, VA, to help with motivation and exercise each day, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC. Call today 703-910-7081.