Appetite and what to feed patient

[judy28462]

My father is in stage 4.  His appetite is rapidly fading.  I do not know what to feed him anymore.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

[midmurphy]

My mom. Had alz. Most diffently give her ensure,but later on. We used baby food and yogurt. Nothing with chunks of anything though you don't want her to swallow anything that could go into her lungs.if she can or you can still be fedher with a spoon ,if not you can use one of those syringes that you take cough syrup with, sometime you can get larger ones from a pharmacy,as far as cups go u can get those kids sippee cups or the ones that have abuilt in straw on the side.but no ice..you will learn as you go along,I'm so very sorry this has happened to your mother.

[rtjrevie]

I have to agree with the Ensure, often people who don't want to eat will drink. I have found that alot of patients like ice cream, so what I used to do was mix an Ensure with a small container of softened ice cream and make a shake out of that. The shakes offer a lot of nutrition. Also another suggestion is finger foods. I am not sure if in Stage 4 (?) they are still able to feed themselves. But often in earlier stages the finger foods worked well. Good luck and prayers to you, this is a very difficult time.  

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

thank you , its not hard to watch no matter what they have, glad your mom went with peace in her heart, but sad it was slow thats whats so hard to watch the ones we love fade away i see it everyday when i walk downstairs and see my sweet mother laying in bed talking to herself.  i love her and tell her everyday two or three times, hug her and hold her hand want her to know am there with her.

GOD Bless all that takes care of a love one .

[allmymarbles]

My mother did not have Alzheimer's but, like many people who are ready to die, she began to refuse food and drink and eventually stopped eating altogether. She faded slowly and died peacefully. I don't believe she had a moment's pain. I wish the same for your mother and all those reaching the end of their lives. My mother was 96.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hi so sorry your going through this, as i have been in it for 7 years now.

my mom has days she will not eat. her nurse has told us to give her insure, one for each meal it replaces her meal and it has all she needs in it.
they have different flavors and they are like milk shakes, shes has high sugar so we give her the sugar free one.

also milk shakes are good its milk, any fruit with water base. like water melon , grapes . she eats lots yogurt, very good for the stomack, apple sauce. soups.

not sure what stage 4 is, but my mom is bed ridden and talks but nothing we can understand now, and there are days she dont eat at all, not easy watching her die, there will come a time that she/he will refuse food all together . my moms dr says its ok dont force it they will choke, when it gets close to that time their body knows they dont need it anymore and refuses it.

we are on their journey now and we need to take them to the end and make sure they are pain free as much as possible and , still feel like our parents not take all from them.

am here if you ever need to talk. God Bless you for all your doing for your Dad, Barbara

[allmymarbles]

If he can't eat solids, will he take nutritious juiced or pureed vegetables and fruits (laced with vitamins)? They can taste really good.