Loss of Appetite

Considering that Muddear is already very small in stature and weight - less than 5 feet and under 100 pounds, I always worry when her appetite decreases.

For about the last two weeks, Muddear has exhibited a decrease in her appetite. Normally, not a breakfast eater, I am always concerned when she eats little or no dinner. For the past 5 years Muddear has taken medication to help increase her appetite; however, sometimes it just doesn't seem to work. I have read many articles about how patients with Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease have a tendency to lose their ability to taste foods. In addition, the types of foods that typically retain the best flavor are those heavily laden with sugar.

With that in mind, there have been times when the doctor encourages the feeding of a lot of sweets to make sure Muddear is getting enough calories. My concern - is that really good for her health? Especially since I have read other reports that encourage caregivers to refrain from serving too many foods high in sugar. Sugar has been linked to sleeplessness.

So what is a caregiver to do? At this point we give Muddear 1 or 2 Ensures per day. Yet, I fear that it really isn't enough. Muddear is small and her food portions are even smaller. I would compare her food intake at any one meal to that of a 6-year-old.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

Christmas Day

Every year, we spend Christmas Eve with Mike's family and Christmas Day with my family. So on Christmas day, I bathed Muddear, again dressed her in "going out" clothes...wig and glasses included and we headed to my mother's house. Upon arrival, Muddear was greeted by my family and thus began the festivities.

We had dinner, traditional cold-weather holiday food - turkey, dressing, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, etc. and Muddear ate and ate. This is always a plus as you know what a picky eater Muddear can be. At one point, Muddear expressed that she was cold and I placed a blanket over her lap, which seemed to satisfy her need for additional layers. I became a little worried when several times throughout our visit Muddear asked..."when are we going home?" While not a good sign, I remained optimistic. Thankfully, Muddear did not throw a fit as she has done in the past and we were able to have another joyous family-filled Christmas Day.

We arrived around 2:45 and returned home by 10:30 - a great time was had by all, or so I thought. The next day, when talking to Sharon about her Christmas (you know Sharon works every holiday, but Christmas) she told me about her conversation with Muddear. According to Muddear, we took her to a house with NO heat and forced her to stay there and freeze! To wit, she was not happy about it. Sharon said she tried to explain to Muddear that we would never take her somewhere with NO heat, but Muddear would not hear it! Even going so far as to say..."you don't know how they treat me when you are not around!"

Later that day, when Sharon was about to leave, I went into Muddear's room to ask Muddear how she was doing. Muddear's response...

"I made it through Christmas!"

Food For Thought

A couple of nights ago, I made what I thought was a delicious pasta dish...thin spaghetti cooked with red pepper olive oil, succulent shrimp, and broccoli tossed with Parmesan cheese and a light Alfredo sauce - just enough to make the pasta moist but not enough taste like fettuccine.

Everyone loved dinner but Muddear. As a matter of fact, Muddear was pissed! Not only would she not eat dinner, she wouldn't even taste it!

"Nikki, what is this that you brought me?"
"It is a pasta dish."
"Well, I don't eat my food all mixed together."
"Muddear, it is supposed to be mixed together."
"Not, when I eat it. Just because I am old don't mean you can give me just anything to eat!"
"Muddear, this is what everyone ate for dinner."
"I don't care what everybody ate. I don't eat like this! How am I supposed to know what anything tastes like with it all mixed up?"

Arguing with Muddear really is action of futility, therefore after a few minutes into the discussion I stated that I was not going to argue over dinner. Muddear agreed and requested I remove her plate.

I will never understand the things that set Muddear off or why. Especially when her anger is directed at something nice I have done for her. I question if it is a generational gap, differences in how we were raised, or just Dementia. What ever the reason, I wish there was a way to bridge the gap.

Food for thought...

Subterfuge...?

As is my normal routine each night, I find myself sitting with Muddear engaged in random conversation. While lying in bed waiting for me to dispense her final round of medication for the night Muddear asks..."why wasn't I served dinner?"

"Muddear, you were served dinner, you just didn't eat most of it."
"No I didn't," she says.
"Muddear, here is your plate. I haven't taken it down to the kitchen yet."
"Well, anyone could have put that plate there for show. A plate doesn't mean I had dinner!"

Why I am I always being accused of subterfuge?