80 year old mom with dementia has not reached the point of not eating, in fact, she doesn't stop eating. Any ideas?

my mom has dimencia and is also a diabetic. She can have a bowl of spaghetti, soup, and a yogurt and no sooner than she finishes it-5 minutes later, she says she is hungry again. She is constantly wanting to eat. She says that her stomache feels like she is still hungry. What can I do?

What can I do to stop my moms eating, she eats 24 7, she is up at least 3 times during the night eating, it won't stop!

It could be that one of her medications is making her hungry. I know when my mother-in-law was on steriods, it made her eat ALL THE TIME. I suggest you check out the medications she's on and see if there is a side effect. If not, it could be a phase she's going through too with her Dementia. There will be many phases where she will obsess over something that's probably not important, but by George it is to her. So that could be her problem too. Good luck!

Thank you for asking this question. We are experiencing the same thing. My adult nephew lives with my mom for now and he does the shopping. He said he had to stop buying cookies because no sooner than he put them in the cupboard he finds she has powered through a package of Oreo. I try to send cooked food up when I can. The last time I sent a pan of Ziti he said she ate the entire thing in a single day! (BTW, she had breakfast too) We have no clue where this is coming from and the fact that she is not gaining any weight is even more baffling. So if anyone else has any insight, I too would appreciate it. I share this link with my other siblings to help them understand some of Mom's behaviors. Thanks.

Sounds like a blood sugar issue. And yes, meds can do this. Ask the doctor. Don't go down the "psychological control issue" road, it won't help you -- it is likely to be wrong, and even if it's right, you don't want to get yourself lined up with the "other side" in a control battle. Whether she's emotionally hungry or chemically hungry, she's hungry. Do look into that as a symptom of something else (meds, anemia) with her doctor; for the rest, try to keep the food as healthy as possible and let her eat! By "healthy as possible" I also mean low-glycemic. If she's craving junk food, she's got blood-sugar swings going on. Even cereal, fruit, sweetened yogurt are high-sugar foods. Older bodies have an even harder time than younger bodies dealing with the insulin rush. More protein and veges, less grains and potatoes and sugars. Look up "low-glycemic" online to get a better picture of this and more ideas.

Keep junk food (anything high and sugar and leading to plaque attacks) hidden (don't tell whatsoever). For our Mom, who similarly asks for more food after eating two bowls of cereal and fruit for breakfast, we either say that she's already eaten, or give her a clementine or a yogurt to calm (doesn't always work but no more food is given till lunch time). Possible dementia? If your Mom is showing early stages of dementia I strongly recommend making coconut oil (organic/unrefined) chocolates. Hope this helps. Good luck Cosmic40.

We had similar issues with our Dad who had dementia and also diabetes. The dementia did not allow him to remember that he had just eaten five minutes prior. Diabetes keeps sugar from food reaching your cells leading to constant hunger. So the combination of dementia and diabetes is a double edged sword. Weight loss is also a sign and symptom of diabetes. A healthy meal plan at regular times during the day is important and exercise if possible to keep blood sugar levels normal. Healthy carbs found in vegetables, fruits and whole grains will help. Use these for handy snacks along with fiber rich foods. Consult a dietician for in depth information and meal planning. There are great diabetic cookbooks out as well. We also did a lot of redirect with our Dad such as cards, puzzles and board games to keep his focus off of food. So any activities she might enjoy will also be helpful.

There are a few medications that seem to be favorites of doctors and they tend to cover a few areas for elderly. One is used for mood but also has a booster for appetites. I would suggest finding out and discontinue this. It will help a patient gain some weight but it is not 'healthy' by my standards. I would suggest researching each of her medications.

Is it possible she is diabetic but undiagnosed? This will give you the munchies like you won't believe! Try to offer a lot of low carb protein foods and low carb fruits like berries. This is very filling but won't cause her to gain weight.

You have been given some good ideas for things to check out regarding the cause. Undiagnosed diabetes, drug side effect, poor nutrition in general, and dementia causing her to forget that she has eaten. It could be any of these things, or something else entirely. Maybe even boredom. She likes to eat and remembers that, doesn't remember what else she likes to do, and doesn't remember that she just ate. Hard to know. A medical visit seems wise at this point.

Aside from ruling out underlying problems, what is problem with her eating all the time? Is she gaining weight that would be unhealthy? Is it too expensive? Is it too time-consuming for you? If you can identify what the real problem is you will be more successful in coming up with ways to overcome it.

Good luck!