An odd behavior

Teresag56

I have a really odd situation with my mom...I know this may sound crazy...but when my mom sits at the table to eat she sits kinda sideways in her chair and far from the table and always makes a mess on her and floor. If I say anything or make a big deal out of scooting my chair up it doesn't phase her.Anybody else ever dealt with this...I know it is quirky...the life of Alzheimer's

BassetHoundAnn

No behavior is ever crazy here! Google "Pisa syndrome" and see if that describes it.

LaurenB

Is she also looking at the food out of the side of her eyes?  Could she have macular degeneration and be unable to clearly see what is directly in front of her but retain the ability to see what is in the periphery?

Teresag56

Oh LaurenB I didn't even think about that..yes she has macular degenerative disease  and I have noticed her trying really hard to see in certain situations...do you have any suggestions....thanks so much

May flowers

My FIL also has macular degeneration, he turns his head to the side to see to get his food on his fork, then forward to put it in his mouth. 

I wonder if they make a wraparound tray for Alzheimer’s patients that can be affixed to a chair, kind of like they do on highchairs

Rescue mom

My mom had macular degeneration, and one of the “effects” was that she would make a mess if eating without help. 

They can’t see right in front of them, they have to use their peripheral vision, turn their heads sideways to see things. 

It could be especially hard for her to see anything on the floor, such as dropped food, because she could not “contort” her body enough to see it from the side. She needed help to  find/manage the food. Plates in a color that contrasts with food helps a lot. I don’t know of any special “tools” that help, but there may be some.

Alzheimer’s and dementia patients also often have balance issues and lean a lot. But when you talked about eating and having macular degeneration, I thought about my mom (who also had Alzheimer’s and in a facility).