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She eats constantly, every hour or so, and even gets up in the middle of the night and eats. I have told my dad he has to keep healthier food in ther fridge. I have even thought about getting a child proof lock for the refrigerator.

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Absolutely!

There is someone in my office that eats at least every hour. She does not have dementia. Some people just eat more than others.
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She might be forgetting that she already ate or she might really have an increased appetite due to medication. Sometimes, people who have dementia have obsessions. My LO had obsessions with her cat and certain things in her house, like air fresheners. She couldn't get enough of either. She was also very anxious. Medication helped her with both and made her feel much better. I might discuss it with her doctor to see what he days. I'd be inclined to let her eat whatever she enjoys, unless it's making her sick. I'd also hate to see her gain a bunch of weight, because, it's more difficult to assist an obese person with their personal care, if they are very overweight.
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Not a surprise. My father eats a large meal and 20 minutes later he forgets. It's part of the illness. Apples and nuts may be helpful.
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NANCYAA Aug 2018
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This is new behavior since the dementia kicked in. She eats a meal and then wants to eat a half hour later. I think she has forgotten that she just ate.
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Eventually they will stop eating or lose all interest in food and you will have the opposite problem.
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My mom has same issue. She forgot she ate and eats again. Her chosen food is cookies, so she has gained a lot of weight. Her doctor said it's okay cos there will come a day she'll forget to eat or won't want to. So we buy heathier fiber rich protien cookies like Benvita. Also, they mistake thirst for hunger, so try to get her to drink more water.
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It is possible that she has pain in her stomach and is interpreting that as hunger. Talk to her doc, but consider giving her an antacid.
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GraceLPC Aug 2018
Great point! As kids, my children interperted any stomach pain as hunger. Which led to a lot of eating and vomiting.
Dementia turns the analysis skills back to those of a child.
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my MIL had a very set routine throughout her life. Had to with 6 boys. Anyhow, she would eat breakfast and then want to start lunch. As a stay at home mom with six boys, a husband and no dishwasher, it made sense. Get done with one meal start the next.
Any how, we got her a white board and magnets. After she ate she would put a magnet in to the done space. The there was a choice of activities (write to someone, have the dog take her for a walk (a VERY WELL trained St. Bernard) around the (fenced) yard, paint, etc. Then, when the alarm sounded, it was time for lunch. Repeat for the afternoon.
Mind you, this only worked for about a year.
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How I wish my husband would eat like that because he hardly eats at all now. He went from 140 pounds down to 94 in 5 months. Had him checked at his medical appointment but they don't know why he won't eat. He always says he is full after eating a quarter of his meals. I bought him Ensure and he drinks about 2 sips. He seems to have lost interest in food.
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anonymous275053 Aug 2018
Tperri123 could it be that Your Husband gets a sore throat when eating and does not say ?
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Years ago, I had a friend, who's daughter was in a serious car accident, in which she received brain damage. She would literally eat a pea and feel like she had eaten a full meal. There is a part of the brain that controls appetite:

"The part of the brain which controls hunger is the Hypothalamus. It is the Main regulatory organ for appetite. Hypothalamus is a section of the brain which is responsible for hormone production. The hormones produced by this area of the brain governs body temperature, thirst,hunger, sleep, mood."

Here is another link that explains the hormonal actions:
quora.com/What-part-of-the-brain-controls-hunger#

Apparently, this part of the brain is affected by dementia, IE, brain disease. People without dementia can learn to overcome this problem through treatment of hormones.
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GraceLPC Aug 2018
Thanks Kittysharon.
It is very impotant to tell PCP, and ask for consult with Neurology.
My friend gained a huge amount of weight from overeating. A car accident saved her life. Cause was not stress or any previous condition, it was a tumor! The size of a naval orange. She was younger, but a lot of Medical Issues get missed after Dementia Diagnosis.
It was a high risk surgery, but great surgeon saved her. ( He later invented Gamma Knife). She has a full life.
Worth being sure!
Otherwise get a Behavioral Therapist to help set up a treatment plan. This is beyond skills of a LO.
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THey make fridge locks as well as cupboard locks, or you can possibly lock the kitchen door? It becomes so tedious, and then like my dad said the other day when we added a lock to the laundry room door...what if HE forgets where he put HIS keys? LOL (Right now in the toe of his unworn shoes). If you do lock her out, maybe having one of those little individual bags will appease her?
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My mother will eat a big meal and 20-30 min later say she did not eat and was still hungry. I have a hard time getting her to drink water as well. Earlier this year I had to buy the locks for the fridge because I would wake up the next day and she had raided the kitchen, left dirty dishes and half sandwiches all over the house. I leave out healthy things like fruit and nuts in case she wants to binge on something. She hates that I lock the fridge but it's for her safety and my pockets! Hope this helps.
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I am sorry Folks but putting locks on the Fridge door is a thing that I would never do to any One and most certainly not to some one I love and Who is dying.
Unfortunately the Brain is sick and as time passes the illness will progress and Your Love One will not desire food, and will not be able to eat. In the End allowing Your Dearest to eat and even binge won't make much difference but They will have felt much happier. My advice is "DO NOT FIGHT IT" but go with it. All You will be left with are memories so let those be beautiful memories. As for crumbs and bits of bread here and there ? Who cares, easy to deal with.
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GraceLPC Aug 2018
Agree, locks on frig and cabinets is very detrimental. If there is space, move full size fridge to a locked room, lock the pantry. Then stock a smaller frig ( 16 cu ft) with things that are easy to see and reach, but less food overall.
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I would keep mostly healthy food in fridge...be thankful she can walk & take for herself.
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Yes, as her brain is broken, it is unable to send the signal to her stomach, saying "I'm full." So the solution therein lies with your dad. Perhaps one solution would be for him to purchase small packages of food products and nothing large.
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It could be an issue with her hypothalmus. That is the part of the brain that sends thirst an hunger signals. Perhaps a prior mini stroke.

I would also have her blood sugar checked.

Also, if she is eating almost raw meat, then please have her iron and B12 levels checked.

People who are older in general often lack intrinsic factor that helps the body absorb b12.

B complex injections may help
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