Hi all. I have posted on and off over the years. My mom has been in AL since April 2023 and it was a successful transition. Her dementia has continued to worsen and her care team has now identified her having failure to thrive. We have decided to make the move to MC for the increased support. Thankfully she can stay in the same facility and just move into the MC wing.
My question: have any of your loved ones been diagnosed with failure to thrive? How did this effect the dementia journey? Was there a faster decline? Did they stabilize somewhat when more focused care was provided?
Any feedback would be appreciated.
I was a caregiver for many years to many people with dementia and those who were failing to thrive. I also worked for hospice at home. The additional care and attention can make improvements. No, the dementia will not improve. That does not mean they can't still be kept clean and comfortable. Or that they can't still get adequate nutrition. I find that many times when a person is in the last part of life they start craving sweet things. Take a nutritional shake, add a scoop of protein powder, and some ice cream. Then do it in a blender. Your mom will probably love it.
The care facility she's in is collecting big money for her. She actually needs some real care now in memory care and they don't want to bother. Make them bother. There are other options too like hiring a private aide a couple of hours a day to make sure she gets a good shake, is cleaned up properly, etc... then they report back to you.
What symptoms are they seeing that have lead to this diagnosis?
Are you sure your Mom wouldn't be better off in LTC now? Or hospice?
Medically she seems OK as strange as that may sound. Her weight is steady and she is still physically mobile with no assistance. No falls. As you know, dementia is so unpredictable that it's tough to gauge sometimes where a she is in the journey. Perhaps the AL is being preemptive and wants to get her more support earlier rather than wait too long.
I don't think that LTC or hospice are needed yet. We'll see how she adjusts in MC and keep our options open.
He had said he had a good life and didn’t want to go on any more. His geriatrician said he could not prescribe hospice without a definitive diagnosis (which we were pursuing via many specialist appointments which he hated) but getting this diagnosis of adult failure to thrive in a hospital after a fall led to hospice which was a big help and also meant the end of all those endless specialist appointments.
Interestingly, that day and a half in the hospital, he was on IV fluids and that perked him up a lot. His appetite returned (very temporarily) and he was way more alert and talkative than I had seen him in the two years previously. I think he was chronically dehydrated due to drinking too little. This also gave him poor kidney function. He had swallowing difficulties stemming from dementia.
You know already that she has a progressive disease, and as such, she will only continue to decline, at whatever rate.
Memory Care will provide more cares for her and more one-on-one attention, which should make her remaining time more comfortable and keep her as strong and healthy as she is able.
I'm only throwing out my opinions here. I have not been on the same journey as you are experiencing. My 63 yr old husband has been essentially the same for 10 years now. He does not have a progressive disease, but suffered traumatic brain injury suddenly as the result of a massive stroke. That, too, is frustrating.
He is completely dependent and gets no better and no worse. I almost wish he would simply decline into oblivion, if he's not going to get better. Right now there is zero quality of life for both of us with no change in sight.
So, be happy your mother is getting the best quality of care that she can during this time of her life journey.
I am aware of where my mom's disease will take us and I'm not in denial that she continues to decline. Her move to MC was not unexpected and I am grateful that she has the care that she does. Her caregivers and I will do all that we can to support her as best we can.
Words always seem so lacking to me for these kinds of things but I wish you and your husband all the best.
What it Looks Like in Adults
In adults, especially older adults, 'failure to thrive' (FTT) describes a general decline in health, often due to chronic illness, malnutrition, or frailty. It is characterized by unintentional weight loss, decreased appetite, and diminished physical or cognitive functioning. Common features include:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Decreased appetite and food intake
- Weakness, fatigue, or low energy
- Muscle wasting and loss of body mass
- Cognitive decline, apathy, or depression
- Increased vulnerability to infections
Why It Happens
Failure to thrive in adults can result from a combination of medical and social factors, including:
- Chronic illnesses (e.g., cancer, heart failure, COPD)
- Malnutrition or inadequate food intake
- Depression, social isolation, or cognitive impairment
- Medications that reduce appetite
- Increased metabolic needs due to chronic disease
When to Seek Help
FTT in adults always warrants medical evaluation. A healthcare provider will assess weight trends, nutrition, underlying conditions, and psychosocial factors to identify treatable causes. Early intervention is crucial to prevent further decline and improve quality of life.
I hope this helps.
He started refusing to be changed, get out of bed, take his medications, and eat. He hasn't been diagnosed with dementia but it's apparent his mind is getting worse and he gets agitated.
They sent him to the hospital and he was diagnosed as failure to thrive along with some other medical things (UTI and high troponin-he already was known to have metastatic prostate cancer). His prognosis was listed as very poor.
This was a couple weeks ago and now he's back at the nursing home and, for the most part, doing what he's supposed to.
Thinking of you and your mom.