I have been taking care of my mom with Alzheimer’s since 2007 in her home. In November, she moved in with me, after a 2 month stay at a skilled nursing facility. A couple years ago, my mom would have short periods of time that she would not want to eat, her doctor prescribed Megace. I would give her a tablespoon for about three days and it would start her eating again…. a couple doses every 4 or 5 months. While in the skilled nursing facility, my mom wouldn’t eat at all, so they gave her the Megace for the whole two months she was there. The week I brought her home, I had to have her rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of DVT and was told that the Megace does cause blood clots and she shouldn’t have it anymore. In January my mom started not eating again and her doctor prescribed an anti-depressant for eating, one of the side effects to this drug was weakness. My mom started eating again but she was too weak to even move from the couch to her bed with her walker, so I had to use the wheelchair. I took her off this med and things went back to normal for about two months with her eating again. I called my mom’s doctor yesterday and told her that she isn’t eating again, and she told me to put her back on the anti-depressant. My mom still drinks fluids fine, she still knows me and my family, she still uses a walker and she is still a very pleasant lady, I just don’t know if her not eating is her way of telling me that her body wants to shut down. My mom is probably stage 9 for mobility and about a stage 6-7 for her mind. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
My mom's doctor put her on a drug called Mirtazapine and it really helped her appetite and helped with her depression. I have not noticed any other side effects. You might want to ask about this drug, if you want to try something else.
Love to you and your mom!!
I'd be inclined to let her lead. Encourage her to eat, give her tempting choices, but then let her eat what she's comfortable eating.
Beyond that, I'd wonder these things: Does chewing tire her? Are her teeth okay?
Meanwhile, if a drug causes diarrhea, some experimentation with Imodium could result in balancing this out. Not saying it's easy.
Blessings to you, mother and all involved during this difficult time.
I make smoothies for my residents who stop eating. I offer it every 30-40 minutes if the refuse , but sure I do not force it. Yes, fresh berries with organic yogurt (no additives!), little ice, mixed with chia or hemp seeds (for protein) make huge difference. Sometimes that appetite comes back. Unfortunately, sometimes it does not. Yes, it's one of progressions of disease and you should not force your loved one to continue eating. It's their way to express that decline.
It might be also sign of their visual decline. Try to use different color china. It might be also helpful if you sit at the table and eat with your mom. She maybe just "forgot" HOW to eat and you have to help her by showing it. If she still struggles to use utensils, use your fingers! It worked for few residents in my care. Again, try to offer all natural non-GMO food instead of processed. Toasted gluten-free bread with coconut oil served with a fruit cup is great option.