How Culinary Care Tactics Engage Seniors with Dementia

There is something so special about the kitchen. It is the first stop kids make when they get home from school, in search of a snack as well as the opportunity to share about their day. It is the place family members gather to cook holiday meals together. It is also a place to heat up a cup of milk and find some quiet, reflective solace when sleep is elusive.

For seniors with dementia, the kitchen can bring to mind precious memories such as these. Cooking engages multiple senses, which makes it an ideal activity to unlock the doors of reminiscence. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the sizzle of ingredients in a pan, and the enticing fragrance of a well-seasoned dish can stir good memories, sparking joy and connection.

If you’d like to add culinary techniques to your dementia care toolbox, these suggestions will help.

• Make it simple. Use uncomplicated recipes with familiar ingredients to build a sense of accomplishment. If the person has a box of recipes or favorite cookbook, this is a fantastic place to begin. Take out several recipe options that would be easy to prepare, and then talk through which ones may spark interest. Or, you can search on the internet for simple recipes based on the person’s particular tastes.
• Organize in advance. An organized approach, with ingredients lined up and ready and step-by-step instructions provided, will help ensure a more seamless and enjoyable experience.
• Make it personal. Consider the preferences and capabilities of the individual. Activities like kneading dough, rolling out cookies, or tossing a salad can be confidence-boosting, empowering, and reinforce a sense of purpose while triggering memories.
• Stay social. The objective is to make the activity a time of togetherness, transforming the kitchen into a space where laughter is shared, stories are exchanged, and bonds are strengthened.

The end goal should not be to create a Pinterest-worthy culinary production. Instead, concentrate on each one of the senses utilized and draw on any memories that may come to the surface.

Perhaps, for example, you’re making an apple pie. You can discuss how smooth the crust feels while you roll it out and the powdery flour that puffs into the air while you sprinkle it over the dough. Point out the sound of the apples being chopped, the delicious cinnamon butter aroma while the pie bakes. And naturally, enjoy a piece of the finished product together, encouraging any stories along the way that the individual wishes to share.

At Sage Home Care, our staff members are on hand to include culinary experiences into an older adult’s care plan. Contact us online or at 1-800-578-4554 for more information on our dementia assisted living services in Carmel, Katonah, Brewster, and the surrounding areas.