Daily living and health
Eating and feeding assistance
Eating and feeding assistance is help with getting food from the plate to the mouth and swallowing safely. It can include cutting food, setting up meals, cueing, or feeding the person. Weakness, tremor, vision loss, or dementia can make eating hard.
Why it matters for your family
Poor eating leads to weight loss and weakness, so mealtime help matters. Signs of trouble include leaving food untouched, coughing while eating, or dropping utensils. A caregiver can cut food, use easy-grip utensils, sit with the person, and keep meals calm. People with dementia may do better with finger foods and fewer choices. A common mistake is ignoring coughing at meals. Choking or swallowing trouble needs a doctor's review. Caregivers do not give medical feeding treatments. HomeCare.com live-in services include meals and nutrition, and a doctor or dietitian can advise on special diets.
Source: acl.gov
Related terms
- Activities of daily living (ADLs)Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the basic self-care tasks people do each day.
- Dementia careDementia care is support for people with memory loss and other thinking problems that disrupt daily life.
- Personal carePersonal care is hands-on help with daily self-care, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, and moving around.
- Companion careCompanion care is non-medical home care that focuses on company and everyday help.
- Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes movement problems.
- Care planA care plan is a written plan that lists a person's needs, goals, tasks, schedule and who does what.
