As the disease progresses, your care receiver may not be able to tell what’s safe to eat and drink. Persons with dementia often have reduced taste and smell, making it difficult for some to detect spoiled food.
They may hoard or hide food until it spoils, or they may eat foods harmful to their health – for example, a diabetic eating sweets. Some may fiddle with the refrigerator temperature controls, hastening the spoiling process.
Others may mistakenly store perishable food in the cupboards instead of the refrigerator. Some may eat or drink inappropriate items, mistaking one item for another – like orange-colored liquid dish soap for soda, vinegar for water, or a food magnet for real food. Some may take too much of a medication, or the wrong medications that are stored in the fridge.
Just in case someone eats or drinks a harmful substance, post the national poison control hotline in an easy-to-find location.
In this section, we’ll share with you simple tips and solutions that have helped caregivers like you in similar situations.
Limit Access
At times, you may need to put food, medicines and other items under lock and key for the person’s safety. Some caregivers report success storing meds in a locked box placed in the back of a refrigerator shelf, and camouflaged by food. Small lockable metal boxes are readily available at home office supply stores.
Note, however, that individuals accustomed to taking their own medications may become upset, especially at first, when they can’t find their medications. Some caregivers tactfully tell the person that the medications have been locked up for the grandchildren’s safety.
You can try moving select items to other locations. For instance, you may place a refrigerator/freezer in the garage, or purchase a mini refrigerator that can be placed inside a locked closet.
Some caregivers report success storing meds in a locked box placed in the back of a refrigerator shelf, and camouflaged by food. Small lockable metal boxes are readily available at home office supply stores.
Note, however, that individuals accustomed to taking their own medications may become upset, especially at first, when they can’t find their medications. Some caregivers tactfully tell the person that the medications have been locked up for the grandchildren’s safety.
Finally, some caregivers place a “lock” on the refrigerator to safeguard the person’s health. However, this should be used as a last resort. Although some individuals may walk away after a failed attempt to open the refrigerator, others may become so agitated that they try to force the door open.
If the person is constantly opening the fridge, try diverting their attention with an activity they enjoy. They may be bored and need help getting started on an activity. At some point in the disease, he or she will no longer be able to initiate activities on their own but become interested once you get them started. You may want to consider a structured daycare program if the person needs more activities then you are able to provide. You can learn more about this by clicking on our Related Topics section.
Be sure you leave healthy snacks out on the countertop where they can be easily seen.
Hoarding Food
It is not uncommon for someone with dementia to hoard or hide food. Reducing the person’s risk of eating harmful substances can be especially challenging if the person has had a life-long habit of hoarding, and/or if the person lives or spends a lot of time alone. Yet, there are several things you can try.
People who hoard food are usually fiercely reluctant to throw any food out, but some caregivers have had success persuading the person to trade the rotten food for fresh food.
Since people often hide food in specific locations, determine where those locations are and check them regularly. Common kitchen hiding places are food containers, kitchen drawers, cupboards, and, of course, the refrigerator. Food may also be hidden throughout the house – under beds, mattresses, pillows, in top closet shelves, dresser drawers, in pants pockets, and even in shoes.
Some recommend cleaning the kitchen (and other areas) when the care receiver is out of the house and removing only what is necessary. Remove the items immediately from the premises because it is not unusual for a care receiver to retrieve food from the garbage.
Whenever possible, replace rotten food with fresh food, so the place doesn’t feel empty. Some care receivers become very upset when items have been thrown away, so you may need to have an emergency back-up plan if needed. Consider hiring a housekeeper to come in weekly to keep the premises clean.
Hoarding behavior may also be a result of boredom – people with dementia find it difficult to initiate activities and rely on others to keep them active. Quite often, redirecting individuals to activities that they enjoy – such as music, gardening, and/or meal preparation – can help distract them from engaging in distressing behaviors.
For individuals in the later stages of dementia, certain repetitious activities, such as folding napkins or sorting colored socks, can satisfy the need to be active and engaged. Daycare, structured activities and mealtimes at local social centers may also be beneficial for some.
If the person lives alone and his/her health is at risk from hoarding food, contact an advocacy organization, like the Alzheimer’s Association, for help.
Fridge Controls
It’s important that food is stored at safe temperatures to slow bacterial growth. The FDA recommends the fridge temperature be no higher than 40° F, and the freezer no higher than 0° F. Temperature settings are often inaccurate, especially in older refrigerators, so you may want to check the exact temperature with a fridge/freezer thermometer, available for about $5.00 at local supermarkets or grocery stores.
If the refrigerator is old, it may not be keeping food chilled adequately and should be repaired or replaced.
Some people with dementia fiddle with the refrigerator controls and change the settings inappropriately. Try hiding the settings by putting a large object in front of them, or by taping paper or cloth over them; duct tape should work well in the refrigerator if the surface is dry when you apply it.
This camouflage won’t work for everyone – but for some, “if they can’t see it, it doesn’t exist.”
Alarms are available that detect when temperatures fall below the recommended FDA setting, but we haven’t found any that are reliable or easy to use.
