worriedinCali she only eats enough most times just to take her meds then she says. I am full. It just breaks my heart for her or anyone to go through this. Praying for your MIL.
I'm so sorry lulu, your family is in my thoughts. My MIL is on hospice too (pulmonary fibrosis) and not wanting to eat is very common when the body is shutting down, its part of the process and its difficult for the family to cope with. Food won't keep our loved ones alive longer but they also won't starve to death without it. My MIL is pretty much skin and bones now, hasn't had much of an appetite for the last 2 months. She only eats a few bites at meal time, sometimes she doesn't eat at all. If she asks for something specific, we get it for her. My husband & i don't push her to eat but other family members do. If your mother is asking for specific foods & eating them, I would say thats a good sign. When she stops eating completely, thats usually when the end is near.
jeannegibbs we have offered her all sorts of items from ice cream to milk chocolate. She doesn't want either. But will say yesterday afternoon she did ask for a homemade made from scratch chocolate cake. I made one took it to her and she did eat a whole slice. But you and I know that she really needs to eat the entire cake. So we will just keep on with puddings and jell-o. Cuz she says everything is hot in her mouth. We talked to hospice yesterday and they said that whatever she wants give it to her. I ask about her starving and the nurse told me not to worry about that, that her body will not let her starve. Just keep myself and my family in your prayers.
Discuss this with the hospice nurses. They have seen this many times.
The five weeks my husband was on hospice the nurse suggested offering him food, but not pushing it. Let him decide whether to eat or not. Sometimes he did; often he did not. He liked frozen items like Popsicles, which gave him some liquid as well as a few calories.
It is very hard to see a loved one slipping toward death. Cherish this time you have with her.
BarbBrooklyn Mom has had multiple TIA's (Mini Strokes) and has Parkinson's and Dementia. She has been on same meds for a while now. But since she has lost so much weight she has gotten this way with food. Thanks for your input. Blessings to you.
Lulu, what is mom's diagnosis, in other words, why is she on hospice?
At the end of life, as the body shuts down, it can't process food. Is she on any meds that might make food taste "funny"? Have you talked to the hospice nurse about this?
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The five weeks my husband was on hospice the nurse suggested offering him food, but not pushing it. Let him decide whether to eat or not. Sometimes he did; often he did not. He liked frozen items like Popsicles, which gave him some liquid as well as a few calories.
It is very hard to see a loved one slipping toward death. Cherish this time you have with her.
At the end of life, as the body shuts down, it can't process food. Is she on any meds that might make food taste "funny"? Have you talked to the hospice nurse about this?