Loss Of Appetite And Dementia
- Check with the doctor to make sure that there are no treatable causes for loss of appetite, such as acute illness or depression.
- Offer meals at regular times each day.
- Allow the person to eat when hungry.
- Encourage physical activity.
- Provide balanced meals to avoid constipation.
- Offer ice-cream or milkshakes.
- Try to prepare familiar foods in familiar ways, especially foods that are favourites.
- Encourage the person to eat all or most of one food before moving on to the next some people can become confused when tastes and textures change.
- Try to make meal times simple, relaxed and calm. Be sure to allow enough time for a meal helping the person to eat can take up to an hour.
- Consult a doctor if the person with dementia experiences significant weight loss .
- Check with the doctor about vitamin supplements.
- Carers should also make sure their own diet is varied, nutritious and enjoyable.
Are They Starving Or Dehydrating To Death
It may seem that the person is being starved or dehydrated to death, but they are not. In the end stages of dementia , the persons food and fluid intake tends to decrease slowly over time. The body adjusts to this slowing down process and the reduced intake. It is thought that by this stage the hunger and thirst part of the brain has now stopped functioning for most people.
The person may be immobile and so does not need the same amount of calories to sustain their energy levels. Having reduced food and fluid intake and decreased interest in this can be thought of as a natural part of end of life and dying.
Giving increased food and fluids artificially can be helpful for some other health conditions, but it is usually not considered to be helpful at the end of life in dementia as a way of managing reduced oral intake.
What To Do About Body Jerking
Sudden twitching or jerking, known as myoclonus, is another condition that sometimes happens with Alzheimer’s. The person’s arms, legs, or whole body may jerk. This can look like a seizure, but the person doesn’t pass out. Tell the doctor right away if you see these signs. The doctor may prescribe one or more medicines to help reduce symptoms.
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What Health Problems Can It Cause
Not getting enough to eat or drink can lead to:
- Dehydration: To make sure they get enough fluids, give them drinks that are easy to drink and they like. Try flavored water, juices, sport drinks, lemonade, or Popsicles. Itâs common for people with advanced Alzheimerâs disease to stop drinking to the point of dehydration. This is often part of the process at the end of life. If your loved one gets dehydrated often or theyâre in the advanced stages of Alzheimerâs, you should have a plan about whether to use feeding tubes or an IV.
- Weight loss: This can be a sign of other problems, but if someone doesnât eat, this is the most likely cause. If your loved one has lost more than 5 pounds in a week or 10 pounds in a month, they should see a doctor. To help them keep weight on, skip low-fat or low-calorie foods. Serve high-calorie foods, like milkshakes, protein drinks, ice cream, and smoothies. If the weight loss continues, talk to their doctor.
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Let Them Live Out The Rest Of Their Lives
Caregivers and doctors alike feel that is better to let the patient live out the remaining part of their lives without tubes and outside interventions. If it is necessary, they could be aided with painkillers. You can always talk to a physician to know what is best for the patient.
You must be prepared that eventually, the patient will be become completely incapable of eating a meal regardless of how much help and encouragement you provide. When it happens, choose what is best for the patient and not for you.
Devoted Guardians’ Response to COVID-19
Devoted Guardians is actively monitoring the progression of the coronavirus, COVID-19, to ensure that we have the most accurate and latest information on the threat of the virus. As you know, this situation continues to develop rapidly as new cases are identified in our communities and our protocols will be adjusted as needed.
While most cases of COVID-19 are mild, causing only fever and cough, a very small percentage of cases become severe and may progress particularly in the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions. Because this is the primary population that Devoted Guardians serves, we understand your concerns and want to share with you how our organization is responding to the threat of COVID-19.
When The Person With Alzheimers Can’t Move
During the later stages of Alzheimers disease, a person may lose the ability to move and spend much of his or her time in a bed or chair. This lack of movement can cause problems such as pressure sores or bedsores, and stiffness of the arms, hands, and legs.
If the person with Alzheimers cannot move around on his or her own, contact a home health aide, physical therapist, or nurse for help. These professionals can show you how to move the person safely, such as changing positions in bed or in a chair.
A physical therapist can also show you how to move the person’s body joints using range-of-motion exercises. During these exercises, you hold the person’s arms or legs, one at a time, and move and bend it several times a day. Movement prevents stiffness of the arms, hands, and legs. It also prevents pressure sores or bedsores.
To make the person more comfortable:
To keep from hurting yourself when moving someone with Alzheimer’s disease:
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How Family Members And Caregivers Can Help
A key factor that should guide decisions about nutrition and hydration at the end of life is patient choice. Patients who prefer quality of life at the end of life often want to be unencumbered by tubes and equipment in their final hours, allowing them to be physically close to their family members and able to receive the comfort care they desire.
Family members and caregivers play an important role by supporting a loved one through the dying process:
- If the patient can still eat or drink, offer small sips of water/liquids, ice chips, hard candy or very small amounts of food via spoon. Take cues from the patient when to stop.
- If the patient can no longer drink, keep the lips and mouth moist with swabs, a wet wash cloth, lip balm or moisturizers.
- If the patient can no longer eat or refuses to eat, provide alternative forms of nourishment: conversation, loving touch, music, singing, poetry, humor, pet visits, gentle massage, reading, prayers or other acts of caring and love.
How To Help With Coordination Changes
A person with a dementia often has difficulty feeding themselves. It is important to encourage them when they are eating and drinking as it helps their independence. It also can help the swallowing process.
Things that can help include:
- cutting food up before presenting it
- only giving them the cutlery that is needed
- putting the cutlery or cup directly into their hand
- using plates and tablecloths of different colours
- making sure the table is not cluttered
- serving one course at a time
- using finger foods such as sandwiches, slices of fruit or vegetables and cheese
- giving gentle verbal encouragement, for example, oh this smells lovely
- using gentle physical prompts, for example, place your hand over the persons hand to guide their food or drink to their mouth
- only as a last resort consider feeding them part or all of the meal
- many people will still be able to hold a cup after the ability to use a fork or spoon has been lost, and this should be encouraged
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What Are The Warning Signs That Life Is Nearing An End
When an elderly person with dementia is almost bearing their end, it can be very traumatic especially for the loved ones. It is important to have an idea of what signs one needs to expect when the end comes as this can give you some sort of comfort.
When you think of a condition such as Alzheimers disease, a person can live for over 10 years with it. It is possible to make the person happy over those years. Since we are not immortals, at some point life does come to an end when you have dementia and it is something that one needs to be prepared for especially if they are caregivers.
Handling the final stage of dementia is much easier, especially when you are aware of the things that you should expect. It is important to give the person the kind of care that will award him or her dignified and peaceful death.
Usually, when a person is about to reach the end, the dementia symptoms usually get worse and this can be quite upsetting. Some of the things that you may notice include:
- Limited mobility so they may have to be bed bound
- Limited speech or no speech at all
- Double incontinence
- Difficulties swallowing and eating
It is important to note that the above symptoms do not really mean that the person will just die. There are people who can have such symptoms for quite some time. You should also remember that about two-thirds of dementia patients succumb to other ailments such as pneumonia.
Some of the other signs that can indicate that death is indeed close include:
How You Can Help Your Loved One Eat And Drink
There are several ways that you can try and increase your loved ones appetite and interest in food and drink.
You know your loved one, their preferences, and their routines best, and that puts you at an automatic advantage. You also know their likes and dislikes and what they can physically manage when it comes to eating and drinking.
Here are some ideas to help encourage your loved ones appetite:
Image courtesy of WessexAHSN
- Make food look and smell appealing. I find that using different tastes, colors, smells, and textures really help my Grandpa want to eat, especially if hes in the kitchen and can see and smell the food being prepared.
- Look for opportunities to encourage your loved one to eat. My Grandpa is most alert and willing to engage in the mornings, so I take advantage of this by making him a big breakfast with a high-calorie count.
I still encourage him to eat throughout the day, but I find that the morning boost helps him quite a bit.
- Give them the food they like. Even if it seems like its much of the same thing, giving my Grandpa small, regular portions of food that he enjoys works far better than a heaping plate of food that hes indifferent towards.
- Keep trying different types of food and drinks: Sometimes, the foods your loved one used to love most now become the ones they cant stand and vice versa.
While not ideal, only eating dessert is better than eating absolutely nothing at all.
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When Dementia Patients Stop Eating: Top Tips For Carers
Every year, nearly 10 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed globally.
Many people think that dementia is simply part of the aging process, but in fact, it is a condition that develops as the result of a disease or health-related event, such as Alzheimers or stroke.
There is currently no cure for dementia, and its often difficult to diagnose, as well. If you are caring for a loved one who has Alzheimers or another form of dementia, youre probably spinning a lot of plates in the air simultaneously as you try to tackle all aspects of care. One such aspect is difficulty eating.
In this article, well discuss some of the reasons dementia patients lose their appetite or have difficulty feeding themselves. We will also offer some solutions for when dementia patients stop eating.
Tips For Helping When Someone Stops Eating
There are a number of professionals who may be able to help diagnose a problem with eating. Assessments are usually interprofessional collaborations, but here is what some of them do: Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, and sometimes Speech Language Pathologists look at swallowing disorders and feeding problems. A pharmacist can look at medications. Ask about effects of medication on taste, about which medications may be inhibiting thinking or alertness, and even which ones are no longer needed. A dentist or dental technician can look for problems in the mouth with teeth, dentures, or gums. The physician can order tests and exams for system related problems which are not apparent through observation.
There are many, many very caring nurses, care aides, and home support workers who are creative, loving, and persistent in their efforts to help someone eat. Care aides especially can have excellent observations about behaviour, response and mood. Family members should talk to them and observe as they are trying to help someone eat.
It may be advisable, if it can be afforded, to hire help privately to help someone with eating. This provides the individual attention and time that someone may need to eat. For our clients, we have not only hired Home Support Workers, we have our music therapists and recreation workers sometimes helping to feed someone in the time they are with someone.
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Why Do People With Dementia Develop Dysphagia
Dysphagia can be caused by several different factors. These include damage to the parts of the brain responsible for controlling swallowing. In the case of a person with dementia, dysphagia usually occurs progressively over time, unlike the acute dysphagia that can occur suddenly in other elderly care situations, such as if a person has a stroke.
Where To Find Help And Support
Living with a dementia can bring different changes to a persons life that are individual to them. As a carer, there are ways you can help support them in their everyday life and activities.
If you’re concerned about the person you’re caring for, you can speak to their GP.
They can refer you to a relevant health professional including:
- dietitian
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What To Do About Incontinence
Incontinence means a person can’t control his or her bladder and/or bowels. This may happen at any stage of Alzheimer’s disease, but it is more often a problem in the later stages. Signs of this problem are leaking urine, problems emptying the bladder, and soiled underwear and bed sheets. Be sure to let the doctor know if this happens. He or she may be able to treat the cause of the problem.
Accidents happen. Try to be understanding when they occur. Stay calm and reassure the person if he or she is upset. Incontinence supplies, such as adult disposable briefs or underwear, bed protectors, and waterproof mattress covers, may be helpful. Learn more about dealing with incontinence.
Signs Of Death In Elderly With Dementia: End Stage
Dementia is a term used to describe the persistent or chronic decline in ones mental processes and this include personality changes, impaired reasoning, and memory loss. The most common form is Alzheimers disease and it accounts for over 70 percent of all the dementia cases.
It is one of the greatest causes of death in the United States with over five million people living with the disease in the country alone. One of the age groups affected by dementia is the seniors. If you are a caregiver, it is important to know the signs of death in elderly with dementia.
Most progressive dementias and Alzheimers disease do not have any cure. The diseases get worse with the passage of time, but the timeline can be very different from one person to the next.
Caring for persons with the diseases can be stressful and very challenging, especially when their personality begins to change and their cognitive function starts to decline. It is possible that the individual will not even recognize the people who are closest and dearest to them.
As the disease progresses, the person needs more and more support from the caregiver and the family. If the person is elderly, the caregiver needs to know about all the signs that the patient may be dying.
You may need to put the patient on hospice so as that he or she can get the appropriate care during such moments. This offers the family and the patient spiritual, physical, and emotional care.
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What To Do When Your Dying Loved One Stops Eating Or Drinking
Though outside of hospice care it may be unusual for patients to decline food or drinks, it is not uncommon for hospice patients to cease eating or drinking as they approach death. While it is unsettling for you to see your loved one refuse to eat or drink, rest assured that this can be part of the natural dying process.There are many reasons patients stop eating or drinking including:
- Medications that upset the stomach, alter their appetite, or make food taste odd.
- Lack of hunger due to constipation or other medical issues.
- Difficulty chewing food from dental problems.
- Loss of appetite as they are approaching death.
Regardless of the reason, hospice care professionals work to determine the cause by asking the patient questions when possible, and evaluating medications as well as eating capabilities. If your loved one has stopped eating or drinking while in hospice for dementia or other conditions, you may not even notice. There may be no visible signs other than weight loss and discomfort. Since the body is no longer in survival mode, its natural reaction while shutting down is to deprive itself of nourishment and water.