Problems that may be encountered with a demented patient:
(1) anorexia
(2) dehydration
(3) severe constipation
(4) adverse drug effects (dry mouth, diarrhea, etc)
(5) apraxia
(6) agnosia
(7) confusion
(8) easy distractability
(9) forgetting to chew and swallow
(10) depression
(11) behavioral problems (spitting out food, etc)
(12) oral and dental disease
(13) loss of senses (taste, smell, sight)
(14) lack of exposure to sunlight (required for conversion of vitamin D)
(15) limited caregiver resources
(16) dysphagia
(17) risk of aspiration pneumonia
