Mom with advanced Alzheimer’s is not eating. Anyone know what I should expect?

On the other hand, my mother has eaten almost nothing since January except for Ensure, and she's still with us. She's lost 55 pounds which she could stand to lose anyway, so maybe that's why she's hanging on. She'll have days when she eats nothing at all except a few sips of water, then will eat a bit and drink some Ensure. Her eating is like a roller coaster.

Your hospice organization should have given you some kind of booklet about what dying looks like. Your mom is not suffering, so try not to worry. If she's dying, she's going peacefully.

Your mom's body doesn't need the nutrition it once needed. So, living with advanced AD, your mom doesn't feel hungry. She will continue to lose weight. Loss of appetite normally occurs during the active dying phase of the disease, but it is not the only sign. There are many other signs of active dying that the hospice nurse should be familiar with. Some people voluntarily stop eating as a way to hasten the inevitable. On the other hand, she may decide to eat when she is hungry. You might try something like a cherry popsicle to offer some fluids.

The Hospice Nurse should be able to answer any questions you have. Also should be available 24/7 by phone.

Mom may be in the active stage of dying. Has her swallowing been effected? If so, do not force her to eat. If she asks thats one thing but don't force her. She maybe only taking those sips to placate u. When the body starts to shut down, it does more harm if u try to feed them.

I would think that a Nurse working MC knows when a person is near the end.