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My dad is 72 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago but the last four months have been incredibly difficult. He refuses to eat (says everything tastes terrible), sporadically takes his meds and has become very hostile and mean. In this time he has lost almost 100 pounds (6’1 going from 300 to 200 pounds). We can only get him to drink ensures. 1-3 a day and that’s a fight. How long can this last?

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Surprisingly, if he is not very mobile, he can last a whole lot longer than you'd think.

My MIL lived on about the same calories as 2 Boosts per day and she lived a YEAR like that. eventually, she did starve herself to death, that was the actual cause of her death. But it was slow and grueling.

The kids were attending her. They never once forced or even encouraged her to eat. They did not attempt or even talk about a feeding tube. She was tired and angry and wanted to die. It just took a really long time.

However, everyone is different.

Don't push and don't fight. 72 is young, but Alzheimers is horrible. I just lost a 68 yo friend to it.
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Reply to Midkid58
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It can last a very, very long time. There are people who live entirely on a like formula by NG or PEG tube feedings. The goal shouldn't be for a long life, I would think, but if this is what he wants to eat then I would simply allow this to be what he eats, whatever time is or is not involved. No one has a crystal ball in these things. Best out to you.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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In my dads case it was a few weeks. He lost his sense of taste and refused to eat anything. By the time he was hospitalized for end stage kidney failure he lasted about 2 weeks before he became unresponsive and passed away later that day. 😢
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Reply to EarthAngel79
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I am not a medical professional but will share that my dad was diagnosed with dementia at age 77, at which point he was very picky and not eating much. Probably weighed 175 most of his adult life, I would guess was 150 when he was diagnosed. He steadily rejected more and more foods until two years later he was eating nothing but one bowl of ice cream and one glass of orange juice per day (maybe 350 calories total?) for the last four months of his life when he was in home hospice. He refused to drink water except a few sips per day. Refused Ensure, Gatorade, yogurt, etc etc. he also said everything tasted bad and he sometimes had problems swallowing. When he died he was 109 lbs, extremely weak, barely able to stand, mostly incontinent, lots of skin breakdown over all his joints. It was sad. But until the last 48 hours when he had aspiration pneumonia and was on morphine every 2 hours, he was very feisty and could be quite combative. I wish you strength to get through this.
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Reply to Suzy23
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2 years. I’m serious. This can go on a lot longer than you would think
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Reply to Southernwaver
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Bbuck83: Perhaps he requires a hospice evaluation. He could benefit from some protein shakes.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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At this rate you may have a few more months. If he isn't drinking other liquids, it could be weeks. This rapid weight loss can cause organ failure. Make sure he doesn't have an undiagnosed medical problem that could be easily treated. If not, you should start to prepare for the end. Make it as easy and loving as possible. Get as much support for him and the rest of you as possible. You might not be ready to let him go, but this might be merciful for all of you.
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Reply to DrBenshir
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Honest question…how long do you want him to last? Not that you have control over that, no one does, but if he’s lost the desire for food, doesn’t want his meds, feels hostile, and his mind is wracked by dementia, could he simply not want to be here anymore? Obviously, I don’t know your father. In an entirely different set of health challenges, my dad lost his will to be here, and in his circumstances, though it was so very hard, it was also understandable. And I’d say on Ensure, with its high calorie count, he could last indefinitely. Just a thought…I wish you both peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Honestly he could go on for quite some time yet.
One of the ladies in my caregiver support groups mom had Alzheimer's and lived the last 5 years of her life eating only ice cream and cashews, and lived to be 102.
That's what I want to eat for the last 5 years of my life too.
But if you're concerned you should talk to your dads doctor and even to hospice to see if he may qualify for their services.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Evamar Jul 21, 2024
I would eat chocolate and cashews, not big fan of ice cream.
But seriously I seem to recall some study I read about how Europeans survived on little food during 2nd WW and appeared to be fairly healthy decades after.
Maybe restricted meat intake and other high calories foods is not contributing so much to quick demise.
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I do hope you have Hospice to help you. (with all aspects of your dad's decline)
There are some "meal replacement" or "meal supplements" that have more protein you could try them if what he is drinking is the "normal" Ensure.
If he is not expending a lot of energy he does not need the number of calories that he would have to have if he were active.
Is he drinking any other fluids? Water? Juice? Coffee?
If his urine is a dark color that usually indicates dehydration (other than the first in the morning)
What medications is he on? Some effect taste.
And this may be a dumb question but have you tried other foods...ice cream, pudding, at this point any calorie is welcome, don't worry about a "balanced diet"
That said the weight loss is an indication that he may qualify for Hospice.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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My daddy thought all food tasted awful! Then he said I was trying to poison him! YIKES! I had him tested for a UTI - and when we got the results back sure enough thats what it was! But even after that my daddy lost about 50 lbs cuz he did not want to eat. He wouldn't even drink his coffee. My daddy was a truck driver and there was nothing more that he loved but his coffee! Anyway, he would only eat if he got to have the salt shaker. We need to remember that as we get older our taste buds change and as lealonnie1 stated it could be medication. Check with the doctor. blessings - this ain't easy!
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Reply to Ohwow323
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Is dad taking pain killers of any kind? My father said everything tasted awful when he was taking Vicodin and refused to eat. Any new meds at all? Is hospice involved? I'd speak to dad's doctor for their input but know that with any of the dementias, nerves in the mouth are connected to the brain, and when these nerves are affected, they can cause the brain to experience a bad taste associated with the mouth. They usually enjoy sweet tasting foods though so see if you can get him to eat some calorie dense food like a milkshake made with whole milk and Haagen Dasz ice cream. As a test. Then experiment with smoothies that are calorie and nutrient dense as well, since he'll drink Ensure. Ensure also makes a Very High Calorie product, so look into it. We got my husband's from the pharmacy directly by the case.

If nothing works, a hospice evaluation is in order. But I'll bet you he goes for the sweet tasting foods and smoothies you can add yoghurt and protein powder to, along with fresh fruit. Try it.

Best of luck to you.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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