eating and drinking

[cecigirl]

My Mother has  Alzheimer's disease she is not eating or drinking very well. She has been ill since 2001, we are struggling with the idea of a feeding tube afraid she will starve.  Can anyone offer with advice on this.    Thanks

[Dazon50]

How has she been eating what she has had thus far without starving?  Are they monitoring her weight and other changes?  I wonder also along with Lonelymom, how is your Mother having a hard time---is she choking (aspirating) when eating or drinking?  How far is she in the Alzheimer's?  Is hospice involved?  Were her wishes known before she got worse as far as prolonging her life?  There are many unknowns here.

[Lonelymom]

Please explain more, how is she having a hard time? Is she refusing to eat or has she lost the ability to chew and swallow?

My grandfather blames his teeth on why he won't eat a certain food. We have found ways into "fooling" him into eating. We also try to fix things we know he likes and can eat without any problems.

[joyce559]

Try getting her doctor to prescribe megace it is a liquid stuff they can give her to take to cause her to feel hungry it doesn't have bad side effects Try it and also try offering her foods that she really likes             joyce559