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She usually has a very healthy appetite and I am trying to figure out why she doesn't want to eat all of the sudden. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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How old is your mom?

What illnesses does your mom have?

Has she complained of not feeling well? Have you seen any signs that she's not feeling well? Sleeping a lot? No energy?

Has your mom begun any new medications recently?

Have you asked her why she's not hungry?

Lots of questions, I know, but her recent lack of appetite could be due to any number of things.

Get some Ensure and take her to see her Dr. to check her out.
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mspearl, we don't know what stage your mother is in. If she is in late stage and has failing health, it is natural for her to stop wanting to eat. The body is requesting less energy, so she doesn't need as much. Swallowing may be difficult and perhaps her stomach feels a little ill. What I did with my father was made finger foods and snacks available to him. He would eat a cookie, ice cream, or strawberries when he refused other foods. He would like a fish stick, but didn't want heavy things. Light finger foods are preferable when their appetites start to fade. Some people recommend Boost to help provide calories and fluids. It could be worth a try.

It is very hard to watch, so I understand what you're going through. We do the best we can. I totally forgot the idea that my father needed this much meat and that many vegetables. I let him eat what he wanted to. (He would hide anything that he didn't want to eat in a little bag he stashed somewhere. I would find it later. :-)
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I should have added that boiled or scrambled eggs were always a hit with my father. I liked that, since that had almost everything his body needed. They were easy for him to eat and didn't make him feel sick.
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The dietitian told me that patients that don´t feel like eating could be suffering from tooth pain, gum pain, some difficulty digesting

ok people that know me..............mom needs the t.v. turned on.............i am on the verge of tears literally.........................

M88
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I'm back, the TV was fine...........

I was saying that it could be a symptom, yes, like JBelle says. Or an oral discomfort. Since we don't know, you can offer your loved one COOL or COLD things, examples: Milk shakes, made of milk (if lactose tolerant) if not, with frozen blueberries, tofu, water, agave or stevia for sweetener, I did toast oats on a pan and sesame seeds and put in shake. Cold fruits, cold jell-o, Boost, Ensure.
According to experts, when lacking appetite and not being end-of-life, the MD could prescribe something like a medication called REGLAN *not medical advice*, and with time, the patient gets hungry... time... like weeks.

Small attractive portions.

I have also heard of "Bene-Calories", 350 calories in a little tub, added to anything. And also "Bene-Protein". It is prescription, so google it first, or have the information handy when you consult with the MD.

It is hard to watch them not wanting to eat............very hard..........heart breaking....................... M88
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Is she constipated? My mother refuses to eat when she's plugged up. You may need to keep track of when she has a bowel movement because this is the first thing the doctor/nurse will want to know. It's not pretty, but may be asked to look at the color of the stool.
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It could be any number of things as posters above have stated, but I would rule out things like pain and illness with her doctor. If that's not it, it may be the progression of her dementia. Eventually, most dementia patients will lose the ability to chew or swallow. I've read that they actually forget how to eat. Plus, they may just lose the desire to eat as the body prepares to shut down. If that is the case, it's not really treatable.

I would try the finger food and liquids or anything that she might try a little.
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I have been seen many of NH's Patients with ALZ/ Dementia whom they are simply forgot feed them self... because they couldn't sit down to finish each their meal, what we did for them just give them some FINGER FOODS quite often... You will be surprise they will eat and walking around with foods. When I was took care of my live-in friend who had Colon Cancer while he was alive he told me that when he couldn't take any liquid "Please stop and not give me any"..... I was with him till he passed, of course with wonderful assist from Hospice Nurse. He lived three month longer then his Dr was expected.
I do feel for your frustrations and concerns about your loved one's.... WE just care for them best we can and could.
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