Caring safely at home: Nutrition and diet

Making sure the person you are caring for has the right nutrition in their diet is important to reduce the risk of diseases and promote overall health.

These videos are designed for unpaid carers (or informal) who are looking for friends and family at home. They give you and the person you care for practical and relevant information to support you day to day.

Click to play the following videos to find out more.

This section covers:

How to make fortified milk

Fortified milk is normal cow’s milk with added calories and nutrients. You can use it with anything you would normally add milk to (cereal, coffee, etc.), so it is a simple of way of making sure someone who struggles with their daily intake receives enough nutrients.

Nutrition in dementia

Good nutrition is vital for the health, independence and wellbeing of people with dementia. However, maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge for many people with dementia. Difficulties eating and drinking are more noticeable as dementia progresses and unwanted weight loss is a common problem.

The below videos are specifically about nutrition for people living with dementia. For any further information, see our dedicated dementia section.

How does dementia affect eating?

People with dementia may be unable to communicate or recognise that they are hungry or thirsty, or they forget how to eat or drink. Watch the video below to find out more.

Using finger foods to prevent malnutrition

A person living with dementia may not be able to concentrate well on a meal all the way through. This is why smaller portions – such as finger foods – can help to make the task easier.

Top tips for finger foods

What else can help?