Identifying a real request such as "I'm hungry"

dancsfo · January 10

Sometimes, I hear a request such as "I'm hungry" that isn't for real. Let's say a PWD wants to eat lunch at 11:00 am, so I prepare, even though it's a bit early. When ready, I hear "It's too early, I don't want to eat".

I think for meals, it's better to stick to a regular schedule, but there are other times when it's hard to tell if a request is real or is "made up", such as "it's cold", "the light's too dark". I suppose it's simple to just try to honor the request and see what happens, or reheat the soup for eating later. These things are not a big bother at all.

But not everything is that easy. I can also ask "Are you sure?", or repeat the question back: "Is is cold for you?"

Perhaps this is a form of a delusion or hallucination. https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/suspicions-delusions

Does this happen to you?

JamieWattier · January 10

My grandma will come to me 10 minutes after eating and say something along the lines of “are we going to eat dinner soon” or “I was wondering if I could make a sandwich” (she hasn’t made her own food in years). Sometimes it’s forgetfulness, sometimes boredom and other times she seems genuinely hungry/cold/sleepy, whatever the case may be. As far as meals, I have found over the past year or so that offering snack size “meals” 6 or so times a day works better for her than 3 full meals. I try to time it to be in between her regular tv shows, or before/after bath time/time to sit outside, etc.. as it will give her a little more to do in between activities so she doesn’t feel bored.

Whyzit2 · January 10

With the damage that is done to the brain by Alzheimer’s some people lose the ability to discern whether they are really hungry or not. The sensation of fullness disappears for them.

Cosmic · January 10

Our schedule is breakfast after shower/getting dressed. Usually a large breakfast, scrambled eggs, sausage, toast or hash browns, switch off with pancakes, cereal, etc. around noon(ish) a quick sandwich or a protein bar, oatmeal cookies/milk. dinner is another full meal. Always keep a candy bar, oatmeal square or some other easy snack, even a small bag of chips or popcorn. Sometime "hungry" might mean thirsty, glass of milk or orange juice or a soda usually works also.

forbarbara · January 11

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/194292#Comment_194292

So true. My MIL has been on and off hospice twice. The second time was for weight loss, and the hospice nurse assured me that MIL could stay on hospice since she was never going to gain weight.

But then she lost her sense of fullness and gained enough weight to go back off hospice. The aides at her MC were worried she’d make herself sick from overeating. She now weighs 79 pounds, and to my untrained eye still looks emaciated. Go know.

dancsfo · January 11

Thanks for the info @forbarbara I feel sorry for your ups and downs with the hospice and loss of sense of fullness for your MIL. I suppose that it's easier to control overeating, compared to not eating enough.

M1 · January 11

I think I'm seeing this also. My partner has never had a weight issue and she loves for me to bring her Heath Bar cookies from Publix. But now she'll eat the whole package (13 large cookies) in two days' time. Guess I'll need to find something else to bring that's more portion controlled.

jfkoc · January 13

I am hungry can also mean I am bored.

Identifying a real request such as "I'm hungry"

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