Mom getting "sick" at meal time.

Thanks vstefans, but glad you don't have the high-fat dips to send. Here I am never eating sweets like he does and always watching the scale. A good sense of humor is the key :-)

Yeah, let him snack, and then do dinner later.. four small meals a day may be just the thing for him. If we hadn't already gotten rid of all our high-fat cheese dips and such that we sure don't need, I'd offer to mail it all to you for him!

vstefans,
Thanks for the tips. I do buy oatmeal raisin cookies and Fig Newtons. When he goes to the store he will buy chips and dip. I've caught him sitting in the den munching away, his cheeks full just before dinner time. In a way I guess it's funny, but he always tells me not to put salt on his food. He is not overweight and is in fact thin. He is a very active, hyper person, always has been. Also has no sugar problem. So as I said, maybe at 97 let him enjoy what he lkes.

Ssangal, maybe you could sneak some protein into his favorite sweets (e.g. lower fat cream cheese, nuts or nut butter) and maybe have some with raisins or prunes for fiber, and let him eat what he likes! Smaller amounts on the plate may seem less overwhelming to him too. If he's overweight or losing weight, there could be other concerns with that of course...

This probably doesn't apply to your mother, but my father who is 97 will not eat all of his dinner. He tells me I cook too much and put too much on his plate. Here's what I've noticed. He likes his sweets. I always check the cookies, cake, pie and notice that before I start dinner, and we eat early, he must be getting hungry and starts snacking. I've mentioned it to him telling him he's filling up on that and not eating the healthy food. I have thought of not buying the 'goodies', but then thought at his age he should also have the things he really likes.

I keep little snacks for my mom at her NH in a drawer, bananas for one. If I am out running errands throughout the day, I will call the NH at a certain time and ask that the cna go to mom's drawer and help her eat the banana that is there. Tapioca is another good one. If you can keep a few of these types of things at your mom's bedside perhaps she could help herself to them if she is hungary in between meal times. I don't know if your mom is capable of helping herself to these or if she needs assistance. Try the ensure perhaps in all 3 of the flavors if you think she would like them for variety purposes. They cell little 3/4 packs of jello. I get the ones that don't require refrigeration. I am told its a good source of hydration.
Maybe she should be consuming soft mild soups instead of heavy meals. Medications of course could be the cause. Make sure she is getting the electrolytes she needs if she is vomiting. Pedi something that they use for kids would work.. Don't know if you want to add any more medications but over the counter zantax works for me and calms my stomach.

Nancy. Glad u got some help. UTI tx wasn't Bactrim was it? Very heavy serious side effect profile, many have lots of probs w it. Banned in some countries but not here. Pushing fluids, h2o especially should help flush med or other toxins, & helpful for UTI reduction/ non-recurrence. Sr's manifestation of UTI is behavioral n significant, so mom has many possible sources of anxiety. Hoping she's feeling better soon. She is quite the trooper, not sure I could do 3 hrs pt normally, let alone w all she's had going on, hugs for you and mom both! Kimbee

One of the staff members from church went to see her yesterday. He is a psychologist and excellent with my mom. My brother went later and they both said anxiety. She just finished meds for a UTI, so I think the antibiotic is contributing to the nausea and not wanting to eat. She said she felt "weird" at supper, but stayed at the table and ate. I am thinking the guy from church gave her tips and hints on what to do. I didn't want to ask many questions, I am hoping she will let him help her deal with all she is going through. The antibiotic is causing her lots of problems now, she is done taking it, so hopefully the side effects will go away. Thanks.

Full time? Nope-TRIPLE time! Maybe more... Hope your brother can help. I think chair / position discomfort could be a potential problem. If it was all anxiety, it seems her heart rate would go up. Since she likes the social aspect with the ladies who talk, request she be placed with them at meals and perhaps ask those ladies privately to help look out for mom. Our elders all need purpose and to be needed. That would be an easy way for the ladies to help another peer and surely would make mom feel good too. Thx for fling us in on why mom is there. Sorry she had a fracture. Keep us up to date-I learn so much here from everyone's experiences. Kimbee

Such wonderful suggestions! She went there after almost four weeks in the hospital from a pelvic fracture, no surgery. She was in a skilled nursing unit, came home for a day, went back the next day with a new heart arrhythmia problem.

She is concerned about her weight, she went from 108 to 110, which is excellent! Today is her birthday, my brother is going at noon to visit. He was a psychologist for 20 years before we started our own business. He knows what is going on and is very good at figuring out what she is thinking. She doesn't complain about this when she is in her chair for PT. She complains how long she in PT, they work with her and then she sits for a while and her sessions go as long as 2-3 hours. I tried to tell her at least she can look around and visit and isn't stuck in her room. One of the aides took her outside on Monday in the courtyard with a few others. She felt sick and had to go back to her room.

I thought maybe it was sitting in her chair and really more of a discomfort/pain. We are going to ask about a wheelchair that kind of reclines, so she isn't sitting at a 90 degree angle.

She has macular degeneration and they can't do anything for her eyes. I am going to have the OT talk to her about eating. Since she broke her right upper arm in late March, she has trouble with utensils. I have eaten there and the food is really good, so much better than the hospital. Since she really can't tell me what is wrong, I think it's more anxiety than anything. She is also very afraid of her rate zooming up. They check her vitals every time she has a spell and they are always okay.

I just want her to be comfortable there and work on her goals so she can come home. We will most likely continue with home health at home and some hours from her private care giver agency.

Do you all feel like this is a full time job, at times?

Nancy, lots of good points made here, I like them all. Many elderly people are not such neat eaters as they once may have been. Remind her others probably don't even notice, as they are busy tring to get that food successfully into their OWN mouths! No one should expect perfection of others OR themselves in rehab! I'm sorry your mom is having trouble. She may just need a little time to get used to everything? You didn't say why she needed to go there. If she is post surgical, that may be enough to be the problem; smell and taste are affected for a while after surgery. Perhaps she is smelling the food while it is being prepared? It must feel a little strange or awkward or be an adjustment to have to be in an institutional setting regardless of the reason. I hope she'll be doing better soon. Let us know?

Since she likes the social aspect of the dining room, could she have some finger foods in there, while she is visiting with the others at the table, and then be served the meal in her room? Perhaps with time she'd be more comfortable eating in the dining room.

Is there a place where she can eat by herself? If it's nerves, maybe she'd do better eating alone.

PS - maybe there is something they could do to irmpove her vision too? Agan, you may have to push to get it done during the rehab stay unless there is a eye service on site, but it could be worthwhile.

See if they can get OT to focus on adaptive utensils and techniques for feeding herself as a goal. It's hard for some people not to be able to do something well and worry how they look. Anxiety can make you nauseous, that's for sure. It may get better with time and patience, and there is a lot of nutrition in Ensure for the time being! The nurses could possibly get her a snack she is comfortable eating privately for times she just isn't up to the full meal. You can make sure the doc knows about it - I bet Mom would forget to mention it - and they can make sure its not medications side effects too. You may have to push them to weigh her regularly too and make sure its not trending downhill. I hope things go well, and you get your wish for Mom to come home! A good rehab where they work as a team towards the goals that are important to you can work wonders. My dad came home from one and had a few extra years at home, and I've watched a couple close friends get back to their prior level of function or close enough to be on their own at home again at least.

Have her eat in her room by herself for awhile, and see if her appetite improves.