I just found out a few months ago my mom has dementia. I have known for awhile something was wrong but didn’t want to except it or take her to Dr. to find out what was going on. She went from 130 lbs in 2009 to 84 lbs when took her to Dr about 4 months ago. The Dr says she had dementia, so my husband and I moved her in with us.
She rented a house so when me and my husband went to move things there was cat poop under her bed and the house was nasty! Why did I never notice this!!!
Now we have moved her in with us and all she does is lay on the couch or her bed. I can only get her to take a bath about twice a week and trying to get her to eat is a fight! I feed her I don’t know how many times a day Ensure milk shakes 2 times a day but when I give her a meal she takes a few bites and says she is done. She can eat a pound of Hershey Kiss in a week. Oh, she has gained 6 lbs since she has move in.
After my long story my question is how do make her eat better and is it normal for dementia patients not to bath or just lay around. When I try to get her to do something she always says she just doesn’t feel good.
However, as OctoberOhio5 said, keeping her safe and reasonably is saying something important. You are doing fine. You may want to look for support by checking your state website and looking for their version of the National Family Caregiver Support Program. You state may use a slightly different name, but every state has a version of this program. They can offer a lot of help. If your community has an Area Agency on Aging, they are very helpful, as well. You can check the national website at www.n4a.org. Type in your Zip code to see who represents you.
Please keep watching this forum. You'll learn many helpful things and also realize that you aren't alone. That can be one of the most important lessons of all.
Take care of yourself,
Carol
Accepting that you can only do what you can do is the hardest part. Just try to keep her as safe as you can and as comfortable and don't go to the twilight zone with her...! Good Luck to you.
And about the shower thing? Twice a week is just fine. There are people here who can't get their loved ones to shower twice a month let alone twice a week.