Will not eat or drink

[6Ferndale]

My mum has alzheimers. she is in hospital after not drinking or eating properly for 4 weeks. She has urinary infection now. the hospital say they can not force her to drink or eat, Surely there is something that can be done to help? 4 weeks ago she could walk miles and eat like a horse! Now she cant walk unaided. They want to send her home even though she will not eat or drink. Can you suggest anything we can try or anyone we can contact for help?

[cw1330]

My thoughts are that they should be giving her food and hydration through an IV if she is not eating or drinking on her own.  That is probably why she has a urinary tract infection - she is dehydrated.  It would be good if someone could even get her to drink a little bit of gatorade.  You might need to contact a long term care facility or a nurse that can come to your home but it sounds like she needs care around the clock to make sure she doesn't keep the hunger strike up.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It's hard to believe the hospital would take that position.  Your mother may be at a stage of alzheimer's that requires a stepped up level of care to make sure she eats and drinks. You can also get another opinion by calling in a neurologist specialist while she is in the hospital to make sure something else isn't going on that is being missed.