Culinary activities can serve as more than just a means to an end. For dementia patients, they can offer cognitive benefits, self-esteem, socialization opportunities, and a sense of belonging.

In this post, we'll delve into the importance of tailoring cooking and baking activities to the different phases of dementia.

1. The Objectives of Culinary Activities in Dementia Care

When introducing or maintaining cooking, baking, or barbecuing activities for individuals with dementia, it's important to remember our goals:

Promoting Involvement: Engaging dementia patients in familiar tasks helps keep their cognitive functions active.

Social Opportunities: These activities provide chances for interaction and communication.

Physical Benefits: Activities like stirring and kneading can boost strength, balance, and range of motion.

Emotional Well-being: Such activities foster feelings of connectedness, self-esteem, and purposefulness.

2. Safety First: Using the Right Equipment

• Safety cannot be overemphasized. It's crucial to:

• Use familiar and safe equipment and supplies.

• Avoid sharp tools without close supervision.

• Remember potential food allergies and always supervise when using a stove or oven.

3. Early Stages of Dementia: Maintaining Independence

During the early stages:

• Patients generally understand the purpose of cooking tasks.

• They can typically engage in familiar activities for around 20 minutes.

• Simple cues, either verbal, visual, or pointing, may be needed.

• Simplified and familiar recipes are best.

• Setting up and cleaning up can be tasks they manage, with supervision.

Quick Tip: Engage them in choosing recipes and cleaning up after the activity.

4. Middle Stages of Dementia: The Joy of Participation

As dementia progresses:

• The purpose of cooking might become unclear, but the joy remains.

• Attention spans might reduce to 5-15 minutes.

• More cues and possibly physical guidance ("hand over hand" assistance) will be required.

• Avoid sharp items completely.

• Always present one item at a time to prevent overwhelming them.

Quick Tip: Engage them in repetitive tasks like stirring or shelling peas. Using utensils with larger handles can also be helpful.

5. Late Stage: Engaging the Senses

In the late stages:

• Focus on sensory stimulation. Engage as many of the five senses as you can.

• Always ensure items are safe and appropriate.

• Watch out for dietary restrictions and swallowing difficulties.

Engaging Activities for Late Stage:

Visual: Show them a food item like a cookie.

Auditory: Let them listen to the mixer while baking.

Tactile: Give them something to hold, like a large-handled spoon.

Olfactory: Allow them to smell freshly baked cookies.

Gustatory: Offer them a taste of what's been made.

Conclusion

Engaging dementia patients in cooking and baking activities can be incredibly rewarding for them and their caregivers. The key lies in tailoring the activity to their current abilities and ensuring safety at all times.

Let me know in the comments below if you have questions about dementia that you need answered.

If you would like more information on how to help a parent living with dementia, join our next free workshop here.

Read More:

Why Having Your Parent With Dementia Help With Their Grooming Is Good For Them

Why Having Your Parent With Dementia Be Independent With Eating And Drinking Is Good For Them

Disclaimer: These blogs, videos and any work done by Lizette Cloete OT, as a Member of Think Different Dementia, LLC, is given only as educational content and consulting work. This does not create an Occupational Therapist-Patient Relationship. The educational content and consulting work performed should not be considered medical treatment as an Occupational Therapist. The consulting work does not take the place of medical work normally performed by a licensed Occupational Therapist. Please consult a licensed Occupational Therapist for medical advice.

“Think Different” Dementia’s owner, Lizette Cloete, OTR/L graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 1992. She and her husband emigrated to the USA in 1993, and currently reside in South Carolina. They have 2 daughters and one son-in-love, 4 cats, one dog and 16 chickens.

Lizette has almost 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist in a variety of settings, the latest being in the home health environment. Among her many accomplishments, she served on the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association’s Board of Directors from 2008-2014. She enjoys teaching on the topic of dementia, most recently presenting at a national conference on the topic “Dementia Made Simple”