Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

my mother as had the same problem and it worsened when she went on Aricept - simply no appetite. she is also paranoid that others are out to get her. This is what I do to get my mom to eat - hope it helps. I say that I know you are not hungry now but you might get hungry later so why don't you (not me - who she may not trust)fix something. I then talk her through putting a meal in the microwave - since it is not eating - but just fixing it - she follows my instructions (it takes a good 20 minutes to direct her through making a 3 minute microwave meal. Once she sees that she has made it, we don't talk about whether or not she is hungry - only she touches it and she and then I suggest she take a few bites to see if it is hot/cold or done enough. Once she starts, she continues eating.

THANKS BUT WE HAVE TRYED THAT AND IT DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK AT ALL SHE JUST DOES NOT WANT TO TAUCH ANYTHING AT ALL

Not eating is a common problem; my father was very close to having a feeding tube. What we did was to use the Ensure shakes as a means of getting something in him. And also, try using things like ice cream or pudding; at this point, any calories are better than none.

When my mil didnt want to eat her son was not ready to go so he had the dr. give her a med that encourages her eating. it works very well. To me, it is delaying the inveitable. I wish he would let her go and be out of her misery. She has only a little brain left right at the base of her scull. Her headaches on a daily basis. it takes us an hour to feed her each meal. She has lost 35 lbs. This is the saddest disease I have ever seen. It is a natural progression of the disease that they refuse to eat. They know they are dying. We have signed paperwork for no feeding tube. I pray nightly that that night will be her last.

My mom is like this now.I ask the doctor she said just let her eat what she wants when she wants it.I put her on baby food now most of the time.Mom doesn't know anything any more either.This is a awful disease and i hate watching what it has done to my mom.this is the last stage next they wont be able to get up or do anything on there own.Mom is almsot there now.Good luck.God bless ,maudie

i feel guilty. i havent been able to go into the nursing home for 3 weeks. I go there and just sit outside afraid to go in and see what I always see. people dying. I have asked someone to go with me hopefully they will. I really am ashamed. I used to go 5 times a week then suddnely I just cant do it.

First of all Donna56 don't feel guilty...remember your loved one doen't know you any longer. We go because it helps US to go and do what little we can. I don't go often unless I have a problem. To the OP, if they don't want to eat don't force it. If you haven't tried Namenda then try that. Namenda helped my mothers personality go from mean to nice and has helped her adjust to a great deal of change. She couldn't take aricept and it wasn't helpful because her stage was beyond middle.

AS others have said, losing the ability to know when they are hungry is a part of this disease and one that helps you understand that they are nearing the end of the journey. At this point if they are still able to swallow wihtout danger let them eat what they want when they want it and I do hope you have made decisions on things like feeding tubes and to what extent you are going to go to keep her living.
Her systems are starting to shut down. For some this whole process takes many months for others it is just a matter of days or weeks but you need to realize this is what's happening and start mentaly preparing for what is coming next. I do hope you and your husband talked with her BEFORE she got very sick so that you know what she would want done now.

About this time last year my husband nearly stopped eating. He was taking in 600/700 calories a day. He lost 45 lbs over the next few months. We all thought it was the end time. Then... who knows why... this Spring he started eating again and now can't seem to eat enough. He seems to have forgotten he just had breakfast etc. and is looking for snacks constantly. He has put back on about 20 lbs. I am guessing just another quirky part of this confusing disease.

Our Dr suggested offering him drinks with a straw. She said one of the last reflexes to go is sucking. He did enjoy milk shakes, SlimFast etc. She said SFast is just another meal replacement drink and is cheaper than Ensure.