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I'm giving my mother Alzheimer's food choices, but she says she isn't hungry or that I giver her too much. Anyone else have food issues?

Asked by lily04  |  Mar 22, 2011

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My mother is 86 and has alzheimer's. Lately, she doesn't want to eat what I give her, even though I give her choices. She either says that she isn't hungry or that I give her too much. She leaves what I give her and then sneaks other food into her room when she thinks I am not looking. I don't care what she eats, as long as she eats something, but it's rather annoying because it's getting to be quite a battle. I get that she isn't
herself anymore-I guess I just needed to vent. Anybody else have food issues and what do you do about it?

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anonymous13319

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Mar 22, 2011

Mom does not have Alz. but her taste in food and appetite have changed over time. Her issues are more about chewing/swallowing. However, she does get overwhelmed and says she loses her appetite when there is too much on her plate. Maybe putting less on your Mom's plate or using smaller plates and bowls may help.
I find things that she likes and that have nutrition. She eats smaller meals/snacks. I prefer this because she has something on her stomach all day. She rarely eats a big meal anymore.
Take note of what your Mom "sneaks" to her room. If it is good for her, buy those things and make them available to her.
Also, It may be more of a behavioral issue than an eating issue. It could be that she wants "control" over the times when she eats or wants to pick out those things herself...who knows! Just have things in the refrigerator that she can access easily. Limit the "goodies" that have less nutritional value. I also put fruit and other snacks on the counter where Mom can reach them. I make milk shakes and add fruit and fiber (flax) powder. Yogurt is a great snack too.
It is good that she is eating.

 
 

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JulieWI

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Mar 22, 2011

My mom has Alz too. A few months ago, she started telling her daytime helper that she wasn't hungry at lunch. I finally figured out that choices were too overwhelming. She couldn't make a decision between a sandwich or soup, so she said she didn't want anything.

We solved this by no longer giving her a choice. She is just served something. Most of the time she eats it. Although lately she is eating less too - and snacking more. Luckily, she snacks on fruit and I don't care how much she eats (except that I often go for an apple and they're gone - lol).

We do have to keep any sweets out of reach or she's eat them until they are gone.

 
 

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lovingmygran

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Jul 1, 2011

My 90 year old grandmother rececently started constantly chewing even though there is nothing in her mouth. What does this mean? Is it a sign of anything?

 
 

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NancyH

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Jul 3, 2011

I have noticed that even though when my mother-in-law says that she's not hungry or that I gave her too much food, if we sit and chat while we're eating she's more prone to clean off her plate. Or when she eats with my husband and I and we have a running conversation about dumb stuff, she is so engrossed in what we're talking about, that again she eats everything. So I guess it's the distraction that gets her. Kinda like when I eat in front of the TV, I'm not paying attention to my food so I eat more. Which is not good in that case. ha

 
 

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