Question about eating(1)

CateM

Hi I rarely post here but when I do I appreciate the input. A do follow this forum and it has been a godsend for us. Mom and I along with a team of caregivers are helping my Gram through her dementia. She has VD+AD and is now in advanced stage. She also has recently been put on seroquel and we have lorazepam avail as needed in liquid form. She has also transitioned off a couple of other meds including Aricept.

She now no longer speaks and while she can still walk, it is difficult for her,

My question is about eating. She was feeding herself until the past 2 weeks. Now that is not happening much, although she still does pick up her cup to sip her drink for the most part. She is also not eating her normal faves like oatmeal or mac and cheese.  she is now limiting herself to what she will eat. I don't think it's a swallowing issue, Occassionally she will eat a few bites of chicken or green beans but mostly she's sticking to her protein r\drinks, smoothies, ice cream, cream of wheat.  

My question is there a reason sufferers of varying forms of dementia only open their mouths a little when being fed? Is there a reason for this or is this just a common symptom we need to adjust to. Needless to say it takes her forever to eat, drink throughout the day.  It always has I guess but it's just become more noticeable at least to mom and I since we really didn't notice it much before while she was feeding herself.     

towhee

You might benefit from a visit from a speech therapist. They can look at how she eats in general as well as swallowing. It might be that she just no longer wishes to, or can, chew. Towards the end a lot of physical abilities start to shut down, you are seeing that. Sometimes some abilities will return for a while, but then leave again. If she is not on hospice you might want to look into that.

CateM

Thanks. She is on palliative care right now and her Nurse Practitioner is scheduled to visit next week. I'll suggest to mom she call her before.  Thanks for the advice.

RanchersWife

We are starting to have eating issues too. Forgetting how to use silverware, packing food, not opening mouth wide.... I appreciate any advice from board members about want to expect.

harshedbuzz

If she's not self-feeding, it may be time to call in hospice. 

An SLP can give you tips around feeding her safely as well as ways to get calories in. My aunt was hand-fed for almost 3 years; the process is quiet frustrating and tedious. She was in a very nice facility, but even they didn't have the 90 minutes it took to get a complete meal into her 3 times a day. Her guardian came most days at lunch and hired an outside person on the days she couldn't make it. 

HB

DrinaJGB

Toward the end of life a person will stop eating. It is the end of life norm and hospice will tell you that.