Why is my mom over-eating?

PatriciaAS, I'm sorry about your husband's condition...you need resources to assist you with your husband's care, so you don't crack under the pressure. Does someone care for your husband while you're away from home? It's good that you're able to leave the house, and carry on with your daily routine. My mom's dementia is Alzheimer's related, and it became so severe that she was no longer capable of living alone. On a few occasions, she nearly set her apartment on fire. She used to pour water into a vase with artificial flowers, and she kept dishwashing liquid in the fridge, believing it was a beverage. Mom was always very clean, and took pride in her appearance before the onset of dementia. However, throughout the late stages of the illness, she refused to bathe and wore the same outfit several times a week. I'm glad that you're able to get support on the forum here. My thoughts are with you. ((Hugs))

1dayatatime, I can relate to your experience because mom always accused us of trying to take her belongings, however she walked around with an open purse allowing strangers to see her money. The irony is that she trusted the wrong kind of people who took advantage of her, and refused help from those who loved her. I tried many times warning her about predators, but she became verbally abusive. I was hurt and frustrated, knowing that we couldn't protect her every single moment. I asked God for guidance and strength....and he answered my prayers. I also had to remember that the "mean spirited" woman was not mom....it was Alzheimer's.

My mother is the same way. She always said she didn’t want to be heavy like my grandmother was so that when she needed help she wouldn’t be a problem to move because of weight. But when I remind her of that she says now she doesn’t care. She’s 83 with memory loss from hydrocephalus. Her reasoning has deteriorated as well. So yes – pie, ice cream, sour cream, jelly. I keep meaning to make a copy of one of her “shopping lists” as they are just a list of desserts.
I discovered she was eating a 12 oz jar of strawberry jam in less than a week. Once day caught her buttering her toast, cutting the butter in slices like cheese! Drives me crazy and although I can’t always keep my mouth shut I try because all it does is start an argument. I now buy no sugar added jam and only put out a small amount of butter at a time. And her area around her chair is something! The crumbs and spills – yikes. Anyway – you aren’t alone.

What was her childhood like? My Mom will hide food in her room and of couse forget it is there. She grew up very poor and I believe that the dementia is causing her to go back to a time when she might have had to save food for the lean days? My Mom will also eat alot when she is nervous, any kind of change in her routine(she lives with me) and it is non stop eating. Don't know what to tell you, except you are not alone.

The dementia sure brings up strange food behaviors sometimes! Our mom hides anything she considers sacred in her bathroom (shiver!) we find little stashes of a couple of chocolates here and there and sadly we discard them which of course feeds right into her neuroses that someone is going to take her sweets (self-fulfilling prophecy!) --- as for the over eating - from what we've seen it seems to just be for pure enjoyment or pleasure... tastes good, feels good, and of course the sugar rush (followed by the sugar crash which might be why she's on a perpetual feeding frenzy). Our mom eats with her hands also quite a bit I'm thinking it a sensory thing (more connection with the food and control over it versus wielding a utensil ... but yes it's a big 'ick' factor in our home that we try to overlook :) Hang in there!!! :)

My mom would eat as much junk food as I could provide, but I want her to eat regular food, variety, and balanced meals. That is what she fights me on. But cake, cookies, pretzels, bring it on. I don't know what to say either, except it's always something. If it's not one thing, it's something else.

No you people are not alone. My mother in law eats a meal every two hours. One, she forgets that she has eaten and two, I think she is board. If she is not sleeping she is eating. I quit buying cookies and candy but there is no stopping her in the fridge.

Several years ago I remember sharing with friends at church about our children and their habits and quirks and such and now find myself on one hand chuckling along with my daughter about our little grandbaby's habits...and trying to figure out my mother who seems to have new habits to learn to deal with and conquer as the weeks go by. My mother is at an A.L. so it is a little easeir to control her eating habits. I take my mother out of the facility for her beauty shop appt and this gives me an hour to leave her there and go back to the A.L to replace her "products" (Depends and such), and I can have an opportunity to go through her items that she has bought on the Friday A.L. outings, and replace them with healthier items (like replacing a Hershey bar with a Granola bar). When we are on outings I find myself trying to resist her impulsive shopping inquiries (by disengaging in the conversation and redirecting, often). I have needed to firmly take the chocolate bars out of the grocery cart and finding healthy alternatives. (I.E. a bag of prunes,
or dates that I know she will enjoy). If my mother eats too much chocolate she gets constipation and that can be a major problem.We have had to go to the ER 4 times in the last 8 months. She now refuses to eat any of her vegetables at the A.L. and that can add to her difficulties as well. Fortunately the Emeritus will "hide the vegies" in their gravies and sauces and such. What a comfort it is to have this site! I agree w/Patricia--It is good to know we are not alone in this and can glean from other's responses.

I am so glad someone brought this topic up ... my Mom eats all the time, or WANTS to eat all the time. She will finish a huge breakfast (eggs, bacon, toast) and 1/2 hr later ask me if we ate breakfast yet? She begs for food all day long everyday. I give her 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks and there are 20 begs for food in between. It really amazes me how much better I feel when I know others are going through the same thing. (I wonder why that is???) My mom came in June at 144 lbs and she now weighs 161 lbs. I am trying to cut out the sweets.

Ha! And try to get them to exercise the least little bit! It is almost impossible to keep my mother's weight down if she doesn't even want to get up and go to the kitchen for a glass of water for herself. Although I have caught her moving around quite nicely when she didn't expect me to come home. :)

It might be the taste of food has dimished and they hope somethings taste good again ot they could be hungery