It can be difficult to know whether a person with Down syndrome and dementia is eating properly. Karen Watchman describes guidance produced by Down’s Syndrome Scotland to help reduce stress for patients, carers and support workers

Down’s Syndrome Scotland has produced Food for Thought, a guide for staff and carers that focuses on mealtimes and eating when a person has Down syndrome and dementia. It aims to demonstrate how communication between people with Down syndrome and their carers may be improved. In doing so some of the issues raised at mealtimes by support staff and carers are addressed. For example, information is not widely available to carers or support staff to inform them of what action may be taken when the person with Down syndrome and dementia wants to eat only sweet food, or refuses to eat at all. Food for Thought offers practical suggestions to assist carers in this situation.