Messy Eater

Possible Causes
The person may have:

• Lack of fine-motor control.
• Lack of attentiveness.
• Decreased interest in self-care and hygiene.
• Any combination of the above.

Try these suggestions:

• Lower expectations and look the other way as much as you can. Spilled food can always be cleaned up.
• Use a vinyl tablecloth, which is easily wiped clean, or paper placemats that can be discarded.
• Place a napkin in the person's lap before serving food. (It might not stay there, but it's a start.)
• Cut up foods before serving.
• Serve fewer "risky" foods, such as sauces and condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayo). Preseason food before bringing it to the table.
• If manipulating utensils is difficult, switch to a "spork," a combination spoon-fork often sold in camping stores. Spoons with thick handles are also easier to hold.
• Serve finger foods that eliminate the need to use a utensil, such as fried chicken, chicken strips, pizza cut into bite-sized pieces, fish sticks, sandwiches. Cook eggs omelet-style and cut them into strips or squares that can be picked up.
• At first, offer finger-food meals to everyone at the table, so the person is less apt to feel infantile.
• Serve soup in a mug, not a bowl, and let it cool somewhat first.
• Use unbreakable dishes or heavy ironstone that's less likely to slide around.
• Choose plastic cups over glass ones.
• Serve only one or two foods at a time.
• Serve liquids in a cup with a spout (available in some hospital-supply stores), or pour only a small amount at a time into a small cup.
• If you must point out a mistake (mustard smeared on the cheek), sound casual and surprised ("Oh, that mustard is so messy, let me help you get it off your cheek") rather than shaming or blaming.
• Wash stained clothes at night so they're not worn repeatedly (a common behavior among people with Alzheimer's).

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Dementia Signage for the Home