Eating- moderate stage AD

KayB

Hello- I’m looking for some feedback on an issue. My mother is 94 and has moderate AD. She’s in Memory Care in Assisted Living. She’s lost almost 30 pounds since being moved there in October. My concern is that the staff only ask her if she wants something to eat but don’t present her with food. She will always says no. Therefore she doesn’t get any food. Since her memory is impaired and she doesn’t feel hungry, they should present her with something easy to eat and help her. If she doesn’t participate in that process I’m okay with her not eating.

KayB

Has anyone else dealt with this?

M1

Welcome to the forum Kay. Will she eat if you hand-feed her? I would ask for a sit-down with the director of the facility and with the head of nursing. At my partner's MC, those who cannot feed themselves are hand-fed, and those who need it are given a pureed diet. They should have an explicit policy about this. It may be that their policy requires a higher level of care than you are paying for, I would specifically ask. A 30-pound loss is ominous. As a separate issue, it may be time to consider a hospice evaluation.

KayB

Hello and thanks for the response. Hospice is already involved. They ask if she wants food..she says no. That’s it. It’s MC on the AL side. No effort beyond that.

KayB

She does eat if I hand feed her.

irene912

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/67820/eating-moderate-stage-ad

Wow 30 lbs. She drink protein shakes? That's exactly how my mom is, if you ask, she always says no. It's important to put food in front of her & help her eat. I would make that request asap, they should honor it. If it's memory care, they should be familiar with helping residents eat. My best to you.