Studies show that patients with advanced Alzheimer’s had a level of food intake that was 25% higher when they were served food on bright red plates instead of ordinary white plates, and an 84% increase in fluids when using red drink ware. Progressive neurological diseases affect one’s vision in addition to their thinking and memory. People suffering from Alzheimer’s disease cannot process visual information as they used to, they lose depth perception and contrast. Therefore, people with Alzheimer’s sometimes are not eating enough because they cannot always see the food on their plate. Red appears to be the easiest color for people with Alzheimer's disease to perceive. Using brightly colored, easy-to-see tableware may be a relatively simple way to help such people get better nutrition. Healthcare and caregiving professionals who have learned about these findings are switching to using red dinner plates, bowls, and even coffee mugs.
Another reoccurring problem facing patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is the fear of mirrors. Quite often those with dementia lose the ability to differentiate between what they see in the mirror (themselves or you) and reality. Changes in perception mean that mirrors can upset someone with dementia. Mirrored self-misidentification is a common symptom that occurs amongst patients with dementia. It is the delusional belief that one’s reflection in the mirror is another person, typically a younger or second version of one’s self, a stranger, or relative. When mirrors become a problem, the best thing to do is cover them up with a cloth or towel, or just simply take them down.
