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She may not recognize when she is hungry. Are you asking "are you hungry?" or are you presenting food to her, and she doesn't eat? Don't ask. Just serve food, in small amounts, to her. Eat with her. With dementia, patients may not recognize what food is and what to do with it. By eating with her, you are demonstrating what to do with it. She may just mimic you.
The taste and texture of foods may be unappealing to her. Try something different, even if it's not healthy, like ice cream. She may develop difficulty with swallowing, as the muscles in the mouth and throat lose the ability to chew and swallow safely. Try softer foods, small quantities, and try offering protein drinks, which may be more appealing to her. You may have to start thickening liquids, so they can be more easily swallowed. Use a "clear" thickener like Nestle Resource Thicken Up, or Hormel's Thick & Easy Clear. The ones you buy in the drug store are pasty.
Something a doctor explained to me recently is that at a certain point, death will come as a natural bodily process. In this event, the individual will usually stop eating. This discussion was in the context of whether to allow feeding tubes to prolong life. It may not relate to your situation, but it seems something to consider.
ruffro, With dementia a consistent schedule is important. Is your sister living with you/or you with her? If so be consistent about the time and place you have each meal. A set routine will help and if you can get your sister to help prepare the meal that is even better. Limit things like granola bars, cookies and the like Keep things like fruit (unless there is a medical reason not to) handy. A section in the refrigerator, or even a small "dorm" fridge that you can keep yogurt, cheese and things like that so she can nibble when she wants. Do not keep a lot in these areas so that she will not go through a 8 pack of yogurt or an entire package of string cheese. Many people with dementia will "forget" that they have eaten so they will over eat. On the flip side of that some just "forget" to eat.
1. Have the aids sit at the table and eat something at meal time. If the aids don't want to eat they must still sit at the table during the entire meal time. They can drink some water or something.
2. Change placemats on the table to red. 3. Put all of her foods on red dishes. 4. Get a set of red handled silverware for her to use.
All of this should help but the big one is to make the aids sit at the table at meal times with her.
I don’t know if I have a diagnosis or not! I had a really bad fall when prepping for a colonoscopy. Went to ER. Live alone. I was living in a rooming house. My once a week caregiver cleaned my room and cooked a meal.
one time, as she put the plate next to me, it turned my stomach. I said, I can’t eat that Nellie!! The Frenchman who rented, picked up the plate and put food on a small luncheon sized plate. I was able to eat then! Big amounts of food turn my stomach. When I can, I sneak food to the dogs, who help me.
the Neurologist says I have VWM. Vanishing white matter. Autoimmune disease, destroying white matter around certain nerves. I TRY to eat so as not to loose weight, but I might vomit…and have if forced. I’m 78
SpiffyHeart... I am sorry you are going through this but.... To get good, valid responses you should start a new Post/Question so as the answers to you are not confused with the answers and replies to the original poster "ruffro" It is not fair to either of you to get half answers. Repost your question please and explain what is going on and your concerns.
I noticed some of the residents at my mom's nursing home had to be directed to eat: in one man's case he wanted to be constantly on the move so would get up from the table and leave unless some wasn't right there reminding him to eat, another woman became so passive that she had to be reminded to pick up her utensils and put the food in her mouth and that eventually lead to her having to be fed. Another often grumbled about the food but once she was encouraged to just try a bite she'd clear her plate. I think the feeling of hunger can fade as people are less active and I also have no doubt that the brain damage from dementia can screw up the natural impulse to seek out food. I think the best you can do is have meals and snacks at regular intervals and insist that she comes to the table, once the food is in front of her and others are eating she may be cued to actually eat it.
Since your sister is only 58, that means that she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, which as you know can go on for 20+ years. I would just make sure that she has food to eat when she is ready and that it's not complicated to heat up, or just pre-make some sandwiches that she can just grab out of the fridge if and when she gets hungry. There will come a time when she will no longer be able to live by herself without full-time help, so I hope that your sister is open to discussing what her wishes are when that times come while she's still early in her Alzheimer's and can still make decisions, so you as her POA can do your best to honor her wishes, keeping in mind that her safety and care must always come first. You are in for a very long difficult and ever-changing journey with your sister, so please educate yourself as much as you can on this horrific disease so you are better prepared for what is yet to come.
My mom has dementia, and the subject of food is a tense one, lol. We'll tell her that the food is ready and sometimes she'll come fill a plate. Other times we'll tell her 2-3 times and then she'll say later, "Oh, I didn't know you made food." So now, if she doesn't make herself a plate, we'll fill one for her. Often she says she's not hungry... only for her to stand at the toaster five minutes later, and eat jelly out of the jar. Idk if she forgets to make toast, or what. She's always had a hefty sweet tooth, but now she'll go through 2-3 loaves of bread and j2 jars of jelly per week. :( It seems cruel to not continue to buy those things because it's about all she can manage to fix on her own, even with us providing meals.
(Before anyone comes for me, lol, she lives with us full time.)
Really there is nothing to do. Forcing fluid is prolonging what is now a torment and a torture of a life. Allow her to eat when and what she wishes at this point so long as she has an adequate swallow and is able to handle food. End stages often mean a lot of choking and swallow difficulties. That would be the time to have hospice in with good sedatives and to allow death to come with peace. I am so very sorry. Early Alzheimer's is a different beast to late onset. It is faster and more devastating in its attacks. Please consult closely with the care team involved. Making your own well ground up and sweetened nutrition bars may help with nutrition if that's a goal of yours. Ask for a nutrition consult if you wish to have one.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Are you asking "are you hungry?" or are you presenting food to her, and she doesn't eat? Don't ask. Just serve food, in small amounts, to her. Eat with her.
With dementia, patients may not recognize what food is and what to do with it.
By eating with her, you are demonstrating what to do with it. She may just mimic you.
The taste and texture of foods may be unappealing to her. Try something different, even if it's not healthy, like ice cream. She may develop difficulty with swallowing, as the muscles in the mouth and throat lose the ability to chew and swallow safely. Try softer foods, small quantities, and try offering protein drinks, which may be more appealing to her. You may have to start thickening liquids, so they can be more easily swallowed. Use a "clear" thickener like Nestle Resource Thicken Up, or Hormel's Thick & Easy Clear. The ones you buy in the drug store are pasty.
With dementia a consistent schedule is important.
Is your sister living with you/or you with her?
If so be consistent about the time and place you have each meal.
A set routine will help and if you can get your sister to help prepare the meal that is even better.
Limit things like granola bars, cookies and the like
Keep things like fruit (unless there is a medical reason not to) handy.
A section in the refrigerator, or even a small "dorm" fridge that you can keep yogurt, cheese and things like that so she can nibble when she wants. Do not keep a lot in these areas so that she will not go through a 8 pack of yogurt or an entire package of string cheese.
Many people with dementia will "forget" that they have eaten so they will over eat. On the flip side of that some just "forget" to eat.
2. Change placemats on the table to red.
3. Put all of her foods on red dishes.
4. Get a set of red handled silverware for her to use.
All of this should help but the big one is to make the aids sit at the table at meal times with her.
one time, as she put the plate next to me, it turned my stomach. I said, I can’t eat that Nellie!! The Frenchman who rented, picked up the plate and put food on a small luncheon sized plate. I was able to eat then! Big amounts of food turn my stomach. When I can, I sneak food to the dogs, who help me.
the Neurologist says I have VWM. Vanishing white matter. Autoimmune disease, destroying white matter around certain nerves. I TRY to eat so as not to loose weight, but I might vomit…and have if forced. I’m 78
I am sorry you are going through this but....
To get good, valid responses you should start a new Post/Question so as the answers to you are not confused with the answers and replies to the original poster "ruffro" It is not fair to either of you to get half answers.
Repost your question please and explain what is going on and your concerns.
I think the feeling of hunger can fade as people are less active and I also have no doubt that the brain damage from dementia can screw up the natural impulse to seek out food. I think the best you can do is have meals and snacks at regular intervals and insist that she comes to the table, once the food is in front of her and others are eating she may be cued to actually eat it.
I would just make sure that she has food to eat when she is ready and that it's not complicated to heat up, or just pre-make some sandwiches that she can just grab out of the fridge if and when she gets hungry.
There will come a time when she will no longer be able to live by herself without full-time help, so I hope that your sister is open to discussing what her wishes are when that times come while she's still early in her Alzheimer's and can still make decisions, so you as her POA can do your best to honor her wishes, keeping in mind that her safety and care must always come first.
You are in for a very long difficult and ever-changing journey with your sister, so please educate yourself as much as you can on this horrific disease so you are better prepared for what is yet to come.
(Before anyone comes for me, lol, she lives with us full time.)
Let her eat all the jelly and toast she likes! There will come the time when she won't be hungry.
Forcing fluid is prolonging what is now a torment and a torture of a life.
Allow her to eat when and what she wishes at this point so long as she has an adequate swallow and is able to handle food. End stages often mean a lot of choking and swallow difficulties. That would be the time to have hospice in with good sedatives and to allow death to come with peace.
I am so very sorry. Early Alzheimer's is a different beast to late onset. It is faster and more devastating in its attacks. Please consult closely with the care team involved. Making your own well ground up and sweetened nutrition bars may help with nutrition if that's a goal of yours. Ask for a nutrition consult if you wish to have one.