Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Beth, Try to contact your aunt's doctor They do have medication to open appetite My mother had to take it once. He, or she will know what to do. Maggie --- Beth wrote: > Hi I'm caregiver to my aunt she is 72 a few months > ago she had a UTI, > and since then she has not been eating well, and she > has been > incontient. She is down to 80lbs.....she hardly > will eat anything > now. Sometimes I can get her to have a can of > Ensure or pankcake or > eggs for breakfast. For lunch I can't get her too > eat much at all > maybe a bite or two then throughout the day I might > be able to get her > to snack, but she does drink pepsi a good bit. > That's what she wants. > For supper if she eats most of it that's a good > day. Or some snack > at night. Is there anything that the Dr. can give > me to give her an > appetite back? My aunt had this for about 9 years > now parkinsons lewy > body dementia....she still knows us, but she can't > talk very well at > times, we can't understand her, unless she gets > upset and then she > yells because we can't understand her...I really > love my aunt and she > raise me since I was 2, she is all I have. The drs > say she is in the > last stages, how long can someone live in later > stages? She still > laughs at things I say to her, and she tells me she > is hurting. I > don't want to lose her, I try to do everything I > know to help her. I > am online all the time looking for some light to > help her. I would > appreciate any help with helping her eat. Thank > you.....Beth > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. http://sims.yahoo.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Thanks Maggie I will call on Monday! > > > Hi I'm caregiver to my aunt she is 72 a few months > > ago she had a UTI, > > and since then she has not been eating well, and she > > has been > > incontient. She is down to 80lbs.....she hardly > > will eat anything > > now. Sometimes I can get her to have a can of > > Ensure or pankcake or > > eggs for breakfast. For lunch I can't get her too > > eat much at all > > maybe a bite or two then throughout the day I might > > be able to get her > > to snack, but she does drink pepsi a good bit. > > That's what she wants. > > For supper if she eats most of it that's a good > > day. Or some snack > > at night. Is there anything that the Dr. can give > > me to give her an > > appetite back? My aunt had this for about 9 years > > now parkinsons lewy > > body dementia....she still knows us, but she can't > > talk very well at > > times, we can't understand her, unless she gets > > upset and then she > > yells because we can't understand her...I really > > love my aunt and she > > raise me since I was 2, she is all I have. The drs > > say she is in the > > last stages, how long can someone live in later > > stages? She still > > laughs at things I say to her, and she tells me she > > is hurting. I > > don't want to lose her, I try to do everything I > > know to help her. I > > am online all the time looking for some light to > > help her. I would > > appreciate any help with helping her eat. Thank > > you.....Beth > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. > http://sims.yahoo.com/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Beth - welcome to the board. I'm glad you found us. In regards to weight issues - in our links section: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/links There's a folder marked Weight Weight problems in LBD And w/in there are several links to info that may help. Here's a couple that are in there: Losing Weight A collection of links to articles related to unintentional weight loss in the elderly. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/message/59915 Encouraging Eating suggested that the following publications are shared with you all regarding " Encouraging Eating " . These articles are in " Connections " , a newsletter from the National Institute on Aging's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LBDcaregivers/message/58548 (PS - w/in the above post there are 2 links - one works, the other doesn't but you can get to the one that doesn't from the other. Make sense? LOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 And quoting Geri Hall (from links section too) " This can be a normal and usual part of the LBD process. The agitation, fear, and tremor (understand that rigidity is essentially sustained tremor and burns calories like crazy). It is time for forget about dietary balance (forgive me Ilse -- I know you are cringing) and go for as many high caloric foods as he can tolerate. Go from skim milk to whole or 1/2 and 1/2. Have him eat cheese, puddings, macaroni, ice cream, cake, chocolate, anything with high calories and fat content. At this stage you do not want to worry about cholesterol as the cholesterol you prevent today will be an issue in 10 years. Make sure that you work with five or six small meals because big meals will look overwhelming to him. If you are in the US, the highest calorie food available is the Dairy Queen Blizzard. We use them in our burn unit because burn patients need in excess of 7000-8000 calories per day. There is also good evidence now that slow frequent quiet feedings slow or stop the end stage weight loss. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 And this is from -- will add the links below to the links section too: Subject: geriatric diet http://tinyurl.com/yw9cco The requirement of energy reduces at the rate of about 5% to 20% between the age of 35 to 70 years. To cater to this change in requirement calorie intake should be reduced to maintain ideal body weight as per age and body frame. Overweight individuals need to reduce and attain ideal body weight. While protein, minerals and vitamins requirements remain unchanged, higher intake of minerals and vitamins especially calcium, iron and B complex vitamins may help. These aid the processes of digestion, absorption and utilization as they do not function at an optimal level. Dietary considerations Intake of adequate amount of soluble and insoluble fiber to combat constipation. Sufficient intake of fluids for proper elimination of waste products, stimulates peristalsis and thereby reduces constipation. Intake of easily digestible and soft food. Small & frequent feeds. === http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/534768 (need to sign in to view) Prevention and Management For healthy older people, a well-balanced diet is recommended and includes adequate amounts of calories, protein and essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, fiber, and complex carbohydrates and sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins. The food-guide pyramid may be used as a general guideline for counseling patients about a balanced diet (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic). Patients who are chronically ill, who have recent weight loss resulting from illness or surgery, or who have an unbalanced diet should be advised to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement daily. Calcium supplementation to ensure a daily consumption of 1 g or more of elemental calcium, along with vitamin D supplementation, is advisable. When treating chronically ill patients, education of the patient and family caregivers is an important step in preventing malnutrition. Patients should take advantage of nutritional programs available in the community, such as Meals on Wheels (http://www.projectmeal.org) and Title III nutrition services. A referral to the local office on aging or the Area Agency on Aging (http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov) will enable the patient to access these services. Patients with social, physical, and psychological risk factors for malnutrition can be readily identified using screening instruments and a targeted physical examination.70 Subjective global assessment (SGA), a validated measure of nutritional status based on medical history and physical examination findings, accurately classifies patients as severely malnourished, moderately nourished, or well nourished. SGA combines elements of the patient's nutritional history (weight loss in previous 6 months) and physical examination (e.g. muscle wasting) to generate a valid and subjective impression of nutritional status (http://www.eneph.com/feature_archive/nutrition/v25n4p190.html).70,71 When combined with a review of biochemical indicators of nutritional status, this information should drive the process of further evaluation and treatment of protein-calorie malnutrition. Balanced Diet and Nutritional Supplements A well-balanced diet with calorie-dense foods should be prescribed, along with vitamin and mineral supplements. Commercially available canned nutritional supplements containing 250 to 350 calories of a nutritionally balanced formula are recommended as between-meal supplements (e.g., midmorning and midafternoon) for undernourished older patients. In hospitalized or community-dwelling elderly patients, oral protein and energy supplements reduce all- cause mortality.72 Available interventions include frequent meals and snacks, enhanced flavors of favorite foods, protein-calorie supplements, multivitamins, appetite stimulants, and enteral and parenteral nutrition [see Table 8 -- omitted]. In a randomized, controlled trial of 88 nursing-home patients, an oral supplement was well accepted and resulted in increased daily protein and energy intake, body weight, and nutritional status in most malnourished patients and in those at risk for malnutrition.73 Acutely ill, delirious, or demented patients are at great risk for oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. A swallowing evaluation may help enhance the safety and success of oral feeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 thanks victoria! you rock (as always) xo anna --- wrote: > And this is from -- will add the links below to > the links > section too: > > Subject: geriatric diet > > http://tinyurl.com/yw9cco > > The requirement of energy reduces at the rate of > about 5% to 20% > between the age of 35 to 70 years. To cater to this > change in > requirement calorie intake should be reduced to > maintain ideal body > weight as per age and body frame. Overweight > individuals need to > reduce and attain ideal body weight. > > While protein, minerals and vitamins requirements > remain unchanged, > higher intake of minerals and vitamins especially > calcium, iron and B > complex vitamins may help. These aid the processes > of digestion, > absorption and utilization as they do not function > at an optimal > level. > > Dietary considerations > Intake of adequate amount of soluble and insoluble > fiber to combat > constipation. > > Sufficient intake of fluids for proper elimination > of waste products, > stimulates peristalsis and thereby reduces > constipation. > > Intake of easily digestible and soft food. > > Small & frequent feeds. > > === > > http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/534768 > (need to sign in to view) > > Prevention and Management > > For healthy older people, a well-balanced diet is > recommended and > includes adequate amounts of calories, protein and > essential amino > acids, essential fatty acids, fiber, and complex > carbohydrates and > sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins. The > food-guide pyramid > may be used as a general guideline for counseling > patients about a > balanced diet (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic). > > Patients who are chronically ill, who have recent > weight loss > resulting from illness or surgery, or who have an > unbalanced diet > should be advised to take a multivitamin and mineral > supplement > daily. Calcium supplementation to ensure a daily > consumption of 1 g > or more of elemental calcium, along with vitamin D > supplementation, > is advisable. When treating chronically ill > patients, education of > the patient and family caregivers is an important > step in preventing > malnutrition. Patients should take advantage of > nutritional programs > available in the community, such as Meals on Wheels > (http://www.projectmeal.org) and Title III nutrition > services. A > referral to the local office on aging or the Area > Agency on Aging > (http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov) will enable the patient to > access these > services. > > Patients with social, physical, and psychological > risk factors for > malnutrition can be readily identified using > screening instruments > and a targeted physical examination.70 Subjective > global assessment > (SGA), a validated measure of nutritional status > based on medical > history and physical examination findings, > accurately classifies > patients as severely malnourished, moderately > nourished, or well > nourished. SGA combines elements of the patient's > nutritional history > (weight loss in previous 6 months) and physical > examination (e.g. > muscle wasting) to generate a valid and subjective > impression of > nutritional status > (http://www.eneph.com/feature_archive/nutrition/v25n4p190.html).70,71 > > When combined with a review of biochemical > indicators of nutritional > status, this information should drive the process of > further > evaluation and treatment of protein-calorie > malnutrition. > > Balanced Diet and Nutritional Supplements > > A well-balanced diet with calorie-dense foods should > be prescribed, along with vitamin and mineral > supplements. > Commercially available canned nutritional > supplements containing 250 > to 350 calories of a nutritionally balanced formula > are recommended > as between-meal supplements (e.g., midmorning and > midafternoon) for > undernourished older patients. In hospitalized or > community-dwelling > elderly patients, oral protein and energy > supplements reduce all- > cause mortality.72 Available interventions include > frequent meals and > snacks, enhanced flavors of favorite foods, > protein-calorie > supplements, multivitamins, appetite stimulants, and > enteral and > parenteral nutrition [see Table 8 -- omitted]. In a > randomized, > controlled trial of 88 nursing-home patients, an > oral supplement was > well accepted and resulted in increased daily > protein and energy > intake, body weight, and nutritional status in most > malnourished > patients and in those at risk for malnutrition.73 > > Acutely ill, delirious, or demented patients are at > great risk for > oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. A > swallowing > evaluation may help enhance the safety and success > of oral feeding. > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection. http://new.toolbar.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/norton/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Beth, with my granda we went for as much junk food as possible. he never, ever in his life ate it but we found that when he went into the last stage he would crave it, also fizzy juices such as cola. The last few months his face would light up if we gave him ice cream as swallowing became more difficult. In the end we were told that his body was naturally winding down hence the reason he was eating less and less although when i found this group we had been told my granda had a week to live as he'd stopped eating completely, we, not the medical staff at the hospital, discovered that he had an infection in his mouth. His tongue and mouth had gone black and he was in so much pain which of course he couldn't convey to us. it was treated and we were told that he was in the last stage of the illness and they expected him to last for about six months which he did, almost to the day of being told. Don't know if this will be of any use to you but speak to your aunts doctors and get some advice. .xx Weight Loss Hi I'm caregiver to my aunt she is 72 a few months ago she had a UTI, and since then she has not been eating well, and she has been incontient. She is down to 80lbs.....she hardly will eat anything now. Sometimes I can get her to have a can of Ensure or pankcake or eggs for breakfast. For lunch I can't get her too eat much at all maybe a bite or two then throughout the day I might be able to get her to snack, but she does drink pepsi a good bit. That's what she wants. For supper if she eats most of it that's a good day. Or some snack at night. Is there anything that the Dr. can give me to give her an appetite back? My aunt had this for about 9 years now parkinsons lewy body dementia....she still knows us, but she can't talk very well at times, we can't understand her, unless she gets upset and then she yells because we can't understand her...I really love my aunt and she raise me since I was 2, she is all I have. The drs say she is in the last stages, how long can someone live in later stages? She still laughs at things I say to her, and she tells me she is hurting. I don't want to lose her, I try to do everything I know to help her. I am online all the time looking for some light to help her. I would appreciate any help with helping her eat. Thank you.....Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 Has anybody tried the old fashioned cod liver oil..it is available in capsule and liquid and when we were kids we took it in winter but it does increase appetite and helped ward off winter colds..The knot at the end of my rope is still swinging nicely..Jnett South Texaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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