Chronic dementia. Challenges in feeding a patient.

1. For the SDAT/MID patient, the nurse must determine food preferences and ability to eat, meet nutritional needs, and have a basic understanding of what techniques might assist professional and family caregivers with appropriate feeding techniques. 2. Ensuring adequate nutrition requires a multidisciplinary approach. Nurses must collaborate with dietitians and other health care professionals regarding food selection, feeding techniques, and environmental management that maximize nutritional outcomes. 3. There is a need for continuing research into nutritional needs and dietary interventions for dementia patients in all stages of illness and in all settings.