Yes, it is a sign of late dementia. Is your mother incontinent, unable to walk on her own, and barely verbal? That would be the stage when you expect them to stop eating. Otherwise there may be something that hurts - like her teeth, or her tummy, or she may be stopped up with constipation. Or it could be a UTI. What are her symptoms of dementia?
All of us have days where our appetite wanes, 24 hours is hardly long enough to be diagnostic of anything. I think Surprise was trying to ascertain how advanced her dementia is, while loss of appetite is an end of life sign it would need to be one of a group of clues and it would need to be persistent. I'll link a web site with some things to look for
If she hasn't reached that point her lack of appetite could be from many other causes and you may need to play detective to figure it out. In the meantime you can try to encourage her to eat by offering favourite foods that are easy to eat, supplements like boost and ensure were made for this.
One thing to consider: does she have an advanced directive? If she has alzheimer's, putting in a feeding tube is only going to be confusing and prolong the inevitable decline to death. Death by not eating is not particularly painful after the first two days because after that time, the person is no longer hungry. Some very ill people do this on purpose when they wish to end their lives without other assistance because it is so much better of a way to end.
If your mother clearly has dementia from which there is no return, that it is progressive and she has declined over the last 2+ years, I believe there is not a moral problem with allowing her the dignity of choosing not to eat. I would prefer to be allowed to not eat than to become the confused, non-verbal and non-mobile being trapped in a body that my own mthr has become over the last 8 years.
Being Mortal by Atul Gwande is a book / video/ interview/ TED talk you should read/watch to learn more about end of life issues for everyone and the consequences of interferance like feeding tubes.
IIncontinent yes but that's been because of tipped bladder from years and years ago. Her speech is fine. Her symptoms started in rehab after a prostetic knee dislodged. ER put her out to try and put back but it did not work. Then did more anestedic to try again. I believe that is when it started.
Cindyn, It sounds like this is a temporary setback not alz related. Yes, something is going on cognitively because of the anesthetic. She's not at (the end of alz progression and not eating), she's (not eating and something else). Have you seen a neurologist with your concerns about the anesthesia effects?
I think maybe a drastic change either way may accompany progressing dementia. For a couple years before her diagnosis, my LO might eat voraciously one week, then eat almost nothing the next.
I couldn’t figure out any pattern to this, but I certainly observed it. She also drank large amounts of coffee, which she hadn’t done previously.
Most of her old friends try to tempt her when they visit her, but I’ve never seen her taste any of their contributions since she’s entered the AL.
I think Surprise was trying to ascertain how advanced her dementia is, while loss of appetite is an end of life sign it would need to be one of a group of clues and it would need to be persistent. I'll link a web site with some things to look for
https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/Living-with-dementia/Caring-for-someone/End-of-life-care/Physical-changes-at-end-of-life
If she hasn't reached that point her lack of appetite could be from many other causes and you may need to play detective to figure it out. In the meantime you can try to encourage her to eat by offering favourite foods that are easy to eat, supplements like boost and ensure were made for this.
If your mother clearly has dementia from which there is no return, that it is progressive and she has declined over the last 2+ years, I believe there is not a moral problem with allowing her the dignity of choosing not to eat. I would prefer to be allowed to not eat than to become the confused, non-verbal and non-mobile being trapped in a body that my own mthr has become over the last 8 years.
Being Mortal by Atul Gwande is a book / video/ interview/ TED talk you should read/watch to learn more about end of life issues for everyone and the consequences of interferance like feeding tubes.
I couldn’t figure out any pattern to this, but I certainly observed it. She also drank large amounts of coffee, which she hadn’t done previously.
Most of her old friends try to tempt her when they visit her, but I’ve never seen her taste any of their contributions since she’s entered the AL.