Has anyone got any recommendations of what we can do to get MIL to eat?
She's mid 80s, has just been diagnosed with Alzheimers. She's been struggling to eat for months, has no appetite and says she chokes. Now that Alzheimers has been diagnosed we've been told that trouble swallowing is a symptom. She's been prescribed Complan which she says is vile, and she refuses to drink it. I've just ordered some Fortisip and some Aymes cup. A soup type things from Amazon as I've heard that tastes better, and hopefully it will get at least some calories in her. I suppose if she does like it the next battle is to get that prescribed instead of the Complan. Her GP couldn't be less interested.
If she doesn't like the Fortisip or soup what can we try? We've been told no rice or bread as they're apparently the worst for choking. SIL says the paperwork for carers says she's on a 'mush diet' but they obviously only heat stuff up so SIL has been thinking perhaps baby food is an option? I'm worried it won't have all the nutrients and calories she needs but obviously it's better than nothing. I've been looking at meal replacement stuff online but none of it is high calorie. We're going to be lucky to get 2 or 3 Fortisip in her a day - that's still only max 900 calories!
She's 4ft 6 and size 8 clothes are hanging off her - I think size 6 would still be too big. She needs to eat, she's not going to survive much longer if she doesn't.
She's been assessed for care needs, has carers 3 times a day for meals and meds, but they can't force her to eat. She just pokes at it and won't eat.
She's got capacity, but she's been told she needs to move to a retirement type flat, not a nursing home but with a red button call system etc. She doesn't want to leave her current flat, I understand, it's her home. But it's up 2 flights of stairs and she has trouble just getting out of bed. It's a loft conversion with low ceilings and crap communal heating. It's completely unsuitable for her needs now.
She's so apathetic about everything. She just can't be bothered to eat, to get out of bed, to wear her hearing aids, to do anything, and the less she does the less she wants to do. We're 100 miles away. SIL is nearby but in ill health herself, is really struggling and is understandably frustrated that her DM won't even make the minimum of effort. And feeling guilty for being frustrated. She is returning to work next week after being off with stress. I want to take some of the stress and burden off her but don't know what I can do.
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Dementia and Alzheimer's
MIL won't eat
41 replies
Faranth · 05/04/2021 10:44
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