Is it part of the illness

[boxer]

My Dad is the same. He used to eat very healthy foods and get us to eat up our meat, potatoes
veg and fruit (used to grow all this) but now can't finish a full meal and mashes it about, even though he can still use a fork and spoon when directed and encouraged.

He's 85 and I think his tastebuds have changed and he now loves cakes, custard, biscuits, so as long as he's eating we don't mind.

He's just come out of hospital with a kidney infection and when the staff weighed him I was a bit shocked to find he weighed 9st 4 considering he used to tell us he had always weighed 11.5 stone in his boxing days and up until a few years ago weighed this.

I knew he had lost weight but he's now looking quite bony round the bum and face but even without having Alzheimers a lot of elderly people go this way.

 

[Kate and jack]

Yes boxer your right as long as they are eating something.the group I used to go to said that eating sweet foods was very normal. Must admit id rather have pudding any day than eat my dinner !! Lol

 

[Nebiroth]

My mums appetite is getting smaller,some days she only has a few bites of something,is that normal ?

It could be the dementia but there are many, many potential causes and only a doctor can eliminate them as possibilities.

I wouldn't be inclined to lay the blame on dementia.

Some elderly people just eat less as they get older - less active bodies with reducing muscle mass burn fewer calories.

Other causes might be a change in tastes (developing a sweet tooth is very common indeed), swallowing issues, a dental problem that she can't articulate, etc.

Lack of appetite is much more cause for concern if it is accompanied by a loss in weight.

If someon eis eating less but not losing weight, the simplest answer is that they require fewer calories (from reduced activity, for example) to eat.

Don;t worry about a "healthy" diet. If someone is refusing to eat then eating anything is healthier than not eating at all. A dietician would say if someone is losing weight the most important thing is calories.

You can sneak calories into things by using things like full-fat milk or sugar instead of sweeteners etc. As I said, if a sweet tooth has developed then this makes it easy to pack calories into what food is acceptable.

Also, try small smounts often, a full dinner plate can be intimidating if someone doesn't feel hungry so let her snack. Make sure there is plenty of finger food easily available, a plate of a variety of biscuits may tempt and you can get a lot of calories from them.

But the important thing is to get this checked by a doctor ASAP to make sure there's no underlying cause.

 

[Kate and jack]

Thanku nebiroth for your knowledge and understanding I think with my mum is that she is becoming less mobile and dosnt need as much as she used to,we are offering little and often and that seems to work better than 3 square meals

 

[Nebiroth]

It sounds as though it is simply that she is burning less calories and thus has less appetite, but I would still be inclined to report it to her GP, since there are so many causes. Medically, lack of appetite is anorexia (from the Greek). It just means decreased appetite - what most people know as anorexia is annorexia nervosa, a specific condition whose main symptom is decreased appetite (literally, nervous lack of appetite)

It is very important to keep an eye on weight, if there is weight loss as well then it should be reported to the GP urgently.

Usually, a normal appetite with unexplained weight loss, or unexplained lack of appetite with weigh tloss, are much more cause for concern than lack of appetite without weight loss. In the latter case, the simplest explanation is that the person simply doesn;t require as many calories for their daily activities. As I said, it is fairly common in the elderly.

Certainly a decline in cognitive function (usually associated with dementia) is one known cause of lack of appettite (or indeed, just lack of eating, the patient literally forgets to eat or even does not know how to respond to hunger) but there are many.

Obvously, if there are other "red flag" symptoms, such as persistent indigestion, vomitting, diarrhea or choking incidents then this is cause for an urgent visit to the GP who would almost certainly wish to order investgations and possibly referral to a specialist.

I would certainly be inclined in the meantime to try sweet foods. This is very common in dementia, even in someone who previously disliked sweet things. If I recall correctly, the taste buds that sense bitterness are the last to fail in the elderly, so many foods can taste bitter as a result, hence, the old tend to like their cakes, biscuits and puddings!

Thankfuly this does make it easy to pack calories into them.

 

[babystar]

Does your Mum live by herself? Mine does and I think this was part of it. After my Dad died there was no reason to cook for herself. She has lost a lot of weight and the GP has told her not to lose any more. She tends to eat better with company. If she comes for tea she eats a normal sized meal and at the same rate as everyone else. Even if I cook her a meal at her own home she will pick and poke at it and take an age to eat only half of it. She has carers going in now to cook her a meal or make a light lunch depending on what she's doing that day and she seems to be making an effort to eat more.

I think the same as a lot of others: try and get her to eat high calorie foods. Although if she isn't moving/can't move about so well,and isn't burning any energy, I guess that's why she may not be hungry. However if she's still losing weight it would suggest she's not eating enough to even sustain what little she does do.

It seems your Mum is not alone in this. Maybe it is a dementia-related thing?

 

[Lulabelle]

I'm so pleased to read this thread.
I have been worrying for a while now about my mother's lack of food intake and subsequent weight loss. She has Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's but still lives alone with support.
The other day I discovered that she eats only shop bought trifle and tinned rice pudding plus copious amounts of weak, horribly sugary tea and I was horrified but then I thought to myself, hey, it could be worse. At least she's taking in some calories. She's 87.
I have referred it to her GP and the memory clinic but I must say that reading this thread has set my mind at rest so thank you.

 

[Kate and jack]

Lulabelle as a few ppl have already mentioned its wise to rule out anything physical as to the losing weight,but I generally feel as a person progresses with the condition appetite is defiantly a factor.good luck at the GP and memory clinic love nicci

 

[babystar]

Discovered more evidence to back up the old sweet tooth becoming more dominant. Mum came to ours for tea and we had pancakes for pudding (albeit the day after Pancake Day). I called Mum to come and choose her topping which she did, and when my husband saw what she'd done he asked "do you want some pancakes with your sugar?!". She found it rather amusing and ate the damned lot!

 

[lulubel]

Izzy, my mum's situation is similar to yours! Her appetite seems to be increasing, although she's losing weight. GP has recommended vitamin supplements and if she loses much more will be on food supplements also. She eats little and often, and loads of chocolate and biscuits inbetween times!! (which my children think is really unfair!!)
Hope this helps... xx

 

[Bramble68]

Since mum was in hospital 16 months ago, her appetite has decreased noticeably. We were quite worried for a while, but at least her weight has stayed the same for over 6 months. Her diet seems very limited, mostly variations on bread and cheese, but when my siblings and I take round a meal, it always goes! We take things heavy on protein as she's lost so much muscle, so beef stew, mince-based meals, etc, with extra veg, and blow any calorie control. I took her home made rice pud yesterday tea time, enough for 2 portions for a big man, and she'd cleared the lot during the evening!! I think when she's given a hearty meal she eats it, but just picks at bread and cheese when left to her own devices. In a way it's quite sad, as she used to be a fantastic cook, could make a really tasty meal from nothing, and now doesn't make anything more adventurous than tinned soup!

 

[Charles1966]

My mums appetite is getting smaller,some days she only has a few bites of something,is that normal ?

We've been able to get food supplements from the Dr which have helped. Beforehand we stirred Complan into tea, hot chocolate etc. Another tip is high calorie breakfast foods like fruit or yoghurt bars and breakfast biscuits. Mum really likes them so eats them all. Thick creamy yoghurt works well too, she's always had a sweet tooth. Seems to be working now but was distressing at first. She went from eating normally to virtually nothing, hopefully we've turned a corner now.

 

[Diet84]

Hi,

I am a registered dietitian and I work largely with those that have dementia, including a lot of care home residents. Unfortunately a decrease in appetite is common with this condition, but as others have suggested, it is always advisable to get other possible underlying causes ruled out. The GP can conduct a full assessment- medication review, blood test etc, but it might also be worth asking the GP to refer to a Speech and Language Therapist for a swallow assessment. If swallow function has declined, this can lead to a fear of choking, or increased confusion, fatigue etc associated with mealtimes.
The eating environment is also very important to consider. Eating in company, eating foods that were well liked in childhood, eating from high contrast tableware (red or blue crockery) can be very effective.
As others have mentioned, we often recommend 'little and often', finger foods and an adaptation of the diet to meet new preferences- for example sweeter foods. We do not know why those with dementia seem to prefer sweeter tasting foods, but there is certainly an association. It doesn't necessarily mean only providing puddings and sweets though, a little apple sauce, red currant jelly, or even adding sugar to gravy can encourage a main meal to be eaten and enjoyed. As others have stated- high calorie additions to meals, in the form of dried milk powder, double cream, grated cheese, extra butter etc, will help to add extra calories. Fruit smoothies made with fresh blended fruit, cream, milk, yoghurt, or even ice cream can go down really well too!
It is a good idea to keep meals as simple as possible- especially in terms of textures. For example sponge and custard can be really confusing to eat, but sponge fingers, or a bowl of custard individually might be well accepted.
Sometimes it is a case of trial and error- everyone is different and I rarely see 2 cases the same. Good luck though, food can certainly continue to be enjoyed through old age and by those with dementia

 

[Kate and jack]

Thankyou diet 84 my mum goes through a few good days where she eats well,and then a few days where we have to prompt and remind her that she should eat.we have changed the look of food and how it's presented in front of her. Smaller and little and often have also helped thank you to each and everyone of you who have provided me with good advice and help ,love Nicci xxx

 

[stanleypj]

Welcome to TP Diet84. It's really good to have a dietician member as the issues that are discussed in this thread often crop up. It's good to have a professional pointing out that eating difficulties do not necessarily mean that someone is approaching their end, though it's quite understandable that carers get very anxious when they see a person living with dementia losing their appetite and getting thin.