My mom was always a picky eater, so placing her in the nursing home I knew eating would be a problem. She has been in for 6 weeks and now has lost 20 pounds. She has severe alzheimers but still pretty healthy. She is a pacer and is on the move all day. She doesn't sit for any length of time. At the dinner table she started putting her head down, I think because she doesn't want to eat the food. They called me a few days ago, and said she is not wanting to drink much and is getting dehydrated. I have been going daily to try to get her to drink some gatorade and eat. She will take a few sips and probably in 3 hours drank 5 ounces. She won't open her mouth when they try to spoon feed her food or medicine. She just takes tiny bites if at all. Her bun and creatine are high, but potassium and sodium are normal. Her bun and creatine were better today then Wednesday. If levels get to high then asked me if I wanted to give her an iv or possible feeding tube. She paces and so I don't know how she can have an iv unless she is sedated. She is not aspirating food but just seems to have lost her appetite to eat. Dr put her on remeron to try to stimulate appetite. Dr said give it another 2 weeks. In 2 weeks she will be gone. Anyway, she is a fighter and always had a strong will to live, and I know always wanted to keep living. She is not laying in a bed looking at the wall. She paces around, still says I have to pee an then sits on toilet. She still says Im thirsty or Im hungry, then doesn't eat or drink much. Maybe they are just familiar phrases. I don't know if she would try to remove the feeding tube, but if it is covered up with her clothes maybe not, unless it hurts. If she does pull it out then I guess we can say we tried. Because she is still so mobile and talking, I think she may benefit from the feeding tube. Would love for so input on my situation.
