My mom lives alone. When I check in on her she tells me she is eating, but she isn&#39;t. What can I do?

AmazingGrace

Apr 14, 2010

I kind of relate it to when we raised our children. If they ate one good meal a day, we didn't worry so much. My mother lives with us and most of the time she has a great appetite. But, some days she doesn't and on those days, if she eats that one meal, I feel like she will be okay. Also, my mother has AD and if you ask her if she's hungry, she might say no, but then she may eat a lot. Since you are thinking of moving her in with you, she will probably have a better appetite, because she won't be eating alone.

Helpful Answer (2)

judy1

Aug 24, 2011

When my mother lived at home by herself we got her Meals on Wheels. At first it worked but then I would go over and see lots of meals still in the frig that should have already been eaten. She would just forget to eat!!! Plus as much as I complained the food selection was very limited to what they served....I would buy her cooked chickens and she just wouldn't even see it in the frig......I ended up throwing away more food than she ate........Now she lives in a ALF and sometimes tells me that she hasn't eaten in days???? She just doesn't remember anymore......I guess its just part of the dementia!!

Helpful Answer (1)

heymomz

Apr 13, 2010

Thank you carol, we have actually decided that mom might be better coming to live with us, I will better be able to help her and keep her on her meds plus be sure of what she is eating. Her dialysis nurse also got her into the social worker who will be seeing her weekly. I feel like things are going to be better.
Thank you

ksue5036

Apr 14, 2010

My mom did not remember to eat. I had to start calling her and reminding her to eat.

PirateGal

Apr 14, 2010

My mom doesn't want to eat anymore due to her delusion of being constipated... I have a caregiver that comes in 4 days a week and I come on the weekends and weeknights to kinda make sure as well.

ezcare

Apr 15, 2010

heymomz,
You say that WE decided mom would be better off living with you.
Did you mean you and your mom both decided this would be the best solution? If mom was not included in making that decision I would encourage you to reconsider. Change is a lot more difficult for us older folks than most younger people realize. If depression is the root cause of her not eating well, then being forced to change her daily routine may open up a whole new can of worms that neither of you would want to have for lunch.

NancyH

Apr 15, 2010

Oh to NOT remember FOOD! Just another thing to look forward to getting old....

deefer12

Apr 15, 2010

My mom has no sense of time and when you tell her it's time to eat, she says she just did, even though it was hours ago. Memory loss is a big factor in why elderly don't eat. Another is not having someone to share the meal with. And some like my mom, can no longer fix a meal or know that it is time to eat. Have plenty of her snacks ready and available for her. If she doesn't have to think about the preparation, it might make her feel more like eating. You may be right to move her in with you at this point.

Jaye

Apr 16, 2010

I would really encourage you to make something you know she likes... and go eat with her. Eating alone is rather sad and she may just not feel hungry. Think about getting some meals delivered to her, she would be more prone to eating if it is already prepared... take care, J