Follow
Share

My wife has had another stroke. A stroke 4 years ago left her with vascular dementia and me a 24/7 caregiver. This latest stroke has taken away all fine motor skills and half of the gross motor skills in her dominate right hand. She can feed herself finger food with her left hand. But when it comes to using a fork or spoon, I have to do that for her. She just came home from the hospital this evening and I stopped on the way home and picked up fried chicken, grapes and whole cherries. She can also eat things like a sandwich, chips and celery/carrot sticks.
This brings us back to original question "What are some easy to eat foods with a non-dominate hand?"
Yes, I know she needs to rehab her right hand.

I think there will be a lot of options as long as you are willing to cut her food into portions. Right now I'm housing and cooking for someone who's left side is compromised. When he eats any meat, I cube it or cut it for him. Burgers, mini meatballs. Pot stickers. Same for veggies, like carrots, broccoli, potatoes, asparagus. Jello, cubed. Sandwiches cut into smaller pieces. Shrimp cocktail, cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs, halved. Melons and pineapple, cubed and apples/pears sliced. Orange sections. Olives, nuts (like macademia). Maybe she can even have kid's yogurt in the tubes she can squirt into her mouth. You get the idea. Don't forget the Godiva chocolate... ;-)
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to Geaton777
Report

There are utensils that can be used by people with limited mobility and dexterity.
Search for "Adaptive Utensils"
there are some that are weighted. Some that have loops on the handle so that you do not have to grip. Some plates have higher sides so the food can be pushed to the high side and it will not spill onto the table.
I am sure that the PT will have some good suggestions. (I presume she will have PT)
All that said...Finger foods are what people with dementia begin eating at some point anyway. Anything that can be cut into pieces that can be picked up is "fair game"
I did notice that soon after my Husband went the finger food route swallowing became a concern. I think that was about the time I had to start thickening his liquids. With that things like peaches, mango, even grapes became a problem. Anything slippery could easily slide down his throat and rather than going to the esophagus went the route of the trachea and cause aspiration. So watch the slippery stuff and things like peaches and other soft slippery stuff mash so it is like a thick sauce.
Anything that can melt or become liquid should also be avoided. Popsicle's and Ice cream, become liquid. Jell-O (gelatin) becomes liquid.
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to Grandma1954
Report

As usual, Geaton777 has great advice! She has given me good ideas for my dad. He hasn’t had a stroke, but fine motor is a challenge and many utensil dependent foods are becoming a bit more challenging and messy.

If she is pretty steady with the none dominant hand, soups in a mug (like tomato, etc), that don’t have a lot of chunks that could cause choking if they slipped right into the throat before chewing, can be nice. Wraps rather than plain sandwiches can be a nice change. If it’s ok for her diet-wise, cold cuts rolled together (and even around a pickle) can be fun, but not very healthy because of the sodium so maybe a nice snack/treat once in a while. Smoothies with fruits and other things she likes and some protein powder are refreshing and healthy. Milkshakes with some high protein Ensure mixed in, or protein powder. Empanadas. Tacos. Fish sticks. Mozzarella sticks.

if you google “finger foods” you will get a lot of good ideas and recipes!
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to Hope21
Report

I have to ask first if your wife has had any OT/PT to help her learn how to eat and now do things with her left hand and not her right one, as when my late husband had his stroke he lost any use of his dominate right hand/arm and had to relearn how to do things with his left?
And he was able to do everything with his left hand that he previously was able to do with his right one.
So perhaps ask her doctor if they think any OT/PT would help your wife at this point.
Until then keep things as simple as possible when it comes to foods for her like you're already doing.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to funkygrandma59
Report

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter