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How are they managing their medications?
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Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
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Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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As the body shuts down not eating and or drinking is normal. Continue to offer both food, pureed and fluids but do not force. And PLEASE do not consider a feeding tube or IV's for fluids. To provide either when the body is no longer processing nutrition can be a problem. Know that she will not feel hunger or thirst like you or I do. So she is not "starving" if she does not eat. A Hospice referral would be appropriate.
Also, studies show tube feed actually increases risk of aspiration pneumonia and surprisingly does NOT prolong life! Patients find the tubes annoying and can try to pull them out which causes major trauma. Do NOT go with tube feeding. I offer my mother who is 99 and chokes on chunks yogurt, pudding, and high protein Ensure (30 grams protein per bottle). You can add thickeners if it helps with swallowing. Mom loves to sip on hot chocolate Ensure but won't self-feed food. I have to carefully spoon feed her food. Besides being Mom primary caregiver, I am also a primary care internist and even wrote a book called, The Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver's Handbook: What to Remember when They Forget where I outline more on why G-tubes are a mistake.
We did a swallowing test and dad wanted us to do everything we could so we started him on a Gtube. His intestines stopped working and the Gtube was of no use anymore. After removing the Gtube he lived about a week or so.
When that occurred with my dad we got him to the doctor. Turns out he had myasthenia gravis and he ended up being fed by tube for a number of years. Worked well until the end of life!
Thanks to all of you who pointed out the hazards of feeding tube-they are not life savers. Additionally, be sure to see if the patient has a living will (different than a DNR) which would prevent use of prolonging life by artificial means (such as a feeding tube). One of the best questions I've heard to ask yourself is "would YOU want to live/exist like this".
A speech therapist can evaluate her ability to swallow safely. If she has developed dysphagia, and still has an interest in eating or drinking, the therapist can advise you on safe options, such as thickened liquids or pureed foods, if mom wants it. As many others have said here, it could be a sign of end of life. People stop eating as their body begins shutting down, and can no longer accept food or liquid.
This was a stage in my father's decline and the nurses would advise me what I could or could not bring anymore. They also kept me informed on all options, and this was when hospice was begun to keep him comfortable for remainder of his life.
Hi, My mom had problems with not eating and it turned out to be a urine infection. This happened several times. After several blood clots and hospitalization, she had problems swallowing and We also gave her puréed foods, thickened food, mocha Frappuccinos from Starbucks, pear nectar, and she eventually got back to eating. Best of luck!
How old is Mom? What are her health problems? I was asked if I wanted a swallow test done. It meant taking Mom to the hospital. By this time Mom had started humming, that got so bad she was put on anxiety meds. She then shut her eyes, never to open again. Then she refused to get out of bed. The not being able to swallow was the first sign of her body shutting down.
I agree, her body is shutting down. It is a natural part of the dying process w/dementia. She was 96yr. My Mother did not want to eat much more than cookies. We had to let it happen. She died peacefully in her sleep a short time later.
SALWB Thank you for sharinv your knowledge for all in the book. It is a long, tough journey near end of life. Your advuce here is comfirting to careguvers also. We are all hoping to do the right thing .
My father had problems swallowing in hospital- turns out he 2. Had a tear in his throat ? After that resolved the dietician noticed a weird sound chewing and said his dentures were loose due to weight loss and bit fixit denture glue cream now anything chewy I put in a blender - well worth the investment they did tests on him it’s always best to check nothing wrong first funnily now- my dads swallowing issues in my seem to only happen with food he doesn’t want to eat z! never cake or hard biscuits even Also food to be moistened- dry food harder to swallow sometimes a straw helps Its prudent to check nothing actually medically wrong first tho
To address the "what's next?" This is my current experience: My mom is now at this late stage of her disease process and has been in memory care for over 1 1/2 years. My father just died in November and I'm an only child Starting this summer, she started pocketing her food and taking over 2 hours to eat only part of her meals. Honestly her eating is not pretty and is disturbing to view. She does not recognize that she is eating and her brain does not make the connection of the process of eating. For the past 3 months her weight significantly declined to where she is close to 100 pounds now. Hospice has been brought in. She is on thicker puree meals which she only only eats about a quarter cup and rarely allows someone to spoon feed her. Her cognition has declined significantly and I am waiting for her to stop eating completely. Most days she does not connect with me and I am just happy when she looks at me in the eyes. It's amazing that she has hung in there so long. I know that she is not in any pain- she is just not "there" anymore. Now it's at the point of just waiting for her brain and body to let go and that is on her terms. I cry alot. Though curiously At Monday's visit she engaged me with with a few nods and a smile. I'm so happy when this happens even if it's for a moment
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Continue to offer both food, pureed and fluids but do not force.
And PLEASE do not consider a feeding tube or IV's for fluids. To provide either when the body is no longer processing nutrition can be a problem.
Know that she will not feel hunger or thirst like you or I do. So she is not "starving" if she does not eat.
A Hospice referral would be appropriate.
If she has developed dysphagia, and still has an interest in eating or drinking, the therapist can advise you on safe options, such as thickened liquids or pureed foods, if mom wants it.
As many others have said here, it could be a sign of end of life. People stop eating as their body begins shutting down, and can no longer accept food or liquid.
My mom had problems with not eating and it turned out to be a urine infection. This happened several times. After several blood clots and hospitalization, she had problems swallowing and We also gave her puréed foods, thickened food, mocha Frappuccinos from Starbucks, pear nectar, and she eventually got back to eating.
Best of luck!
My Mother did not want to eat much more than cookies. We had to let it happen. She died peacefully in her sleep a short time later.
Thank you for sharinv your knowledge for all in the book. It is a long, tough journey near end of life. Your advuce here is comfirting to careguvers also. We are all hoping to do the right thing .
now anything chewy I put in a blender - well worth the investment
they did tests on him
it’s always best to check nothing wrong first
funnily now- my dads swallowing issues in my seem to only happen with food he doesn’t want to eat z!
never cake or hard biscuits even
Also food to be moistened- dry food harder to swallow
sometimes a straw helps
Its prudent to check nothing actually medically wrong first tho
Starting this summer, she started pocketing her food and taking over 2 hours to eat only part of her meals. Honestly her eating is not pretty and is disturbing to view. She does not recognize that she is eating and her brain does not make the connection of the process of eating.
For the past 3 months her weight significantly declined to where she is close to 100 pounds now. Hospice has been brought in. She is on thicker puree meals which she only only eats about a quarter cup and rarely allows someone to spoon feed her. Her cognition has declined significantly and I am waiting for her to stop eating completely. Most days she does not connect with me and I am just happy when she looks at me in the eyes. It's amazing that she has hung in there so long.
I know that she is not in any pain- she is just not "there" anymore. Now it's at the point of just waiting for her brain and body to let go and that is on her terms. I cry alot.
Though curiously At Monday's visit she engaged me with with a few nods and a smile. I'm so happy when this happens even if it's for a moment