My mother is 95 and suffers from advanced senile dementia. She is essentially bedridden, altho her caregiver and I get her up for 3 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening, mainly for meals, but also just to move her around a bit.
She used to be 5'3", and we guess she weighs about a hundred pounds, but we have no way of knowing for sure.
The last few weeks she has stopped eating solid foods, although she will drink Boost (I wouldn't inflict Ensure on anyone!), and she loves ice cream. We actually give her Boost Compact, as there are 240 calories per 4 oz bottle. We are able to get about 1000 calories a day in her, altho it is a very slow process, as she has to drink with a straw.We give her one Boost for breakfast and another for dinner, with things like bananas, strawberries, ice cream added to the Boost to increase the calories and vary the flavor a bit.
I turn her in her bed at mid-afternoon and she usually has a half glass of lemonaide or the like. I tried to give her some Boost, but she spit it out. Apparently twice a day is enough!
I have 2 questions: About how many calories a day should she have to maintain her weight, and are there any liquid 'concoctions' we could give her to vary her diet a bit? Energy drinks, or the like? We can make the drinks if we have a recipe.
Many thanks for any advice.
Craig
In addition, many gardeners make their own protein shakes, adding vegetables such as spinach which is high in iron. It might take your mother awhile to get used to them though. Depending on what other conditions she has, you might try smoothies and milk shakes which are more tasty. The smoothies will give her fruits.
I'd be careful with energy drinks, especially the so-called power drinks, w/o discussing with a physician or nurse practitioner. In that kind of discussion would be good anyway to address the issue of electrolyte balance.