Could he be going downhill that fast?

I would not even give him that I will assume he was a heavey smoker let me tell you if you give in and buy one next you will give in and light it if he cafeeding bad habbbits to sick people husband or not will not help them or you show him love inother health ways if he can get if he can get out of bed and go to the door and askiI say he's not going any where soon but you are his rock and if you give in once you will not be helping him spend more and better time here

Tara, what is the significance of a cigar to your husband ? Was he a heavy cigar smoker? Does he want to feel like a younger man again? Is it in any way connected with going to the lawyer? Is it an anxiety reducer for him?

You don't give much information, so it is hard to comment on his behaviors. Eating non-foods is a condition known as "pica", and it can become very destructive to one's body. I need more information.

When mom has her downward slides they happen fast. She can be fairly lucid for awhile and then out of the blue she seems to head down that path of confusion, forgetfulness and delusions at full speed. So I think your husband can be getting that much worse since July.

I find Mom is "out of it" first thing in the morning and at night when she is tired. Not sure how asking for a cigar means he is fast going down hill, especially if he smoked them at one time. Does he mean chewing like eating it or just to have it in his mouth to "chew" on it. You know like between teeth.
People with dementia/Alzheimers don't have much to look forward to. So, if the want to smoke or eat something unhealthy, OK with me.

When my husband goes downhill, he forgets how long ago his father died. He thinks it was 6 months, not 40 years. What specifically worries you?

My husband smokes maybe one a day outside and reads. I think it is an anti-anxiety thing but I guess he was having a bad evening and asked for a cigar to chew on while in bed. We are from KY and this is tobacco country, He does not smoke cigaretts nor has he ever. So at this point he will be allowed to smoke outside when I am home and I am home 5 days a week work 4 hour for 2 days. If I see he is changing things will change

No, don't give him a cigar to chew on! Gross!

Cattgoodness: Please add some pauses.

As strange as this sounds to those unfamiliar with cigar smokers, "chewing" on the end of an unlit cigar is a common practice! It's comforting to have the cigar in his mouth, there's no smoke and he gets the benefit of the nicotine "rush" just like people who use chewing tobacco do (like many baseball players). I'm not advocating this, just explaining. I've seen this done quite a bit by former or even current cigar smokers. Believe me, he won't devour the entire cigar!

Hello Cattgoodness;

First, My Father was a Cigar Chewer! When he would obtain a New Cigar, he would lite it up and smoke it! But, when it got down to about 2+" he would hold it between his teeth and chew on it for HOURS! No, he didn't eat it, but really enjoyed chewing and holding it between his teeth! He died of "Old Age"!
My Wonderful wife of 82 is in Her Last Leg or Phase of Alzheimer's! She has had early symptoms of Alzheimers since 2004 and then I thought were just symptoms of becoming a Senior! It took 10 years before the really difficult and Ugly Stages of Alzheimers started to show up! Early in her 11 year she seemed to go off the deep end about every two days. Her memory, stability & strength deteriorated by 70% per Her Doctor in about 4 Months! Now, they tell me maybe between now and May 2016 I will lose her. In this last phase she gets extremely angry and demanding and asks for things I can't give her and some things I try to give her! No, she hasn't asked to smoke cigars yet? But, she asks to talk to folks that have been gone for 40+ years and I can't fill that request. She also carries a burden now concerning my being her 100% Care Giver and wants the Police to take her to a Care Center! I'm 75 and in pretty good shape and can lift her when she falls out of Her Wheel Chair, which is often! I'm now building a strap to hold her into the chair! I guess if she asked to smoke a Lady type small cigar I would probably give her one and keep a close eye on her! Hey, I give her all types of Treats along with Very Healthy Meals and I feel in this Last Stage of Her Life if she has something in her "To do Bucket List" I'm going to give it to HER! I just hope that in this last phase I can give Her back all the Love she has shown me throughout these Wonderful Years as My Loving Partner! So, just keep an eye on him and sometimes I just put things off and see if She will forget some Request--or--Demand like calling the Police!
God Bless
Jimmycandoc

Real I think your doing a great job I am only 65 and am soul care giver and gauidian of my husband unlike your wife its all physical disabity he lost hafe his body you might say and can't talk I'm glade he has excepted my doing all his business and medical decisions so far I will admit me at first had me worried as I had been told he might be hard to deal with and dangerous but he has great understanding and I explained if he did not I would have no choose but put him back in a safe nursing home I an he like you want to share our days together long or short I don't believe anyone should be in a nursing home when they have a loved one to care for them with or with out help we bond with our partner in more then just a physical but spirit and mind your wife is much better off with you share your memoirs share your dreams speaking of dreams tell her that is where she will see those long lost friend my daughter husband is her guardian and I am very happy he not only bonded with her on paper but for life she is in her 30 somes and has amuity defaut in short her body shuts down arms leg eyes voice and she will never have a child he has her and she has him I am very pleased with them she has always been my happy helpful girl and even now while sick she trys to make me smile my husband and I did not tell anyone he was getting his scull replaced and his water on brain drained the day he went to his room she went in to er for not being able to breath I didn't know well she didn't tell us either I was sitting on the bed in the hospital when I heard a faint ma and there she was on her walker with her iv turns out he was in room 621 and she +622 like a little family reunion God dose strange thing he didn't seem to want any one to be alone in there worry's I was very torn to have to bring my husband home and leave her I only have two daughters and she is the close one if she has a upset I can feel it and her the same it a laugh se times we show up at things wearing lsame color or she will order same dinner now there's a bond Well its a good thing she has you and keep your freedom for as long as you can I know we will even if its only to sit on our deck and feed the birds or hear the bees I like your can-do I was born on the Seabee base and I tell my husband he has to get a can-do mind for get what he can't do and do what he can

Thanks, MomsMom, that is how I was trying to explain.

I just lost my father 4 weeks ago. He was 92 with dementia. In May, we were going to physical therapy (exercise) once a week. When June came, he started to decline and did so rapidly. The only thing he wanted to eat the last couple of weeks was ice cream and that is what he got. I let him have whatever he wanted and whenever he wanted it. I was his soul caregiver and I wanted him to be happy as long as he could. It certainly wasn't going to damage his health!

Tobacco use is an addiction. The chewing is a clear need to have the tobacco. Be glad that this person is not demanding to smoke the cigar, especially if there is oxygen in the room. As for "going down hill,' there are many other predictors for deciding if that is actually happening.

Better to chew on the cigar than smoke in bed. I don't think one odd request is necessarily proof of rapid decline.

Yes, tobacco is an addiction. Only the user can stop.