My mom is 86 years old, has parkinsons, she is on hospice since May of this year, we thought she was going to pass away at that time, she wasn't eating much just drinking, but now she is eating more, but continues to get very thin, she has blisters on her feet that do eventually pop, she is in a wonderful senior home and they take great care of her, I visit her every other day, she sleeps all the time and hasn't been able to get out of bed due to her being so weak and frail, how long does that last? It is so heartbreaking seeing her like this, she is pretty alert, but sometimes says things confusing. Has anyone else gone through this with their parent? Seems like this is the end of life, but don't know how long she can be like this, she has falled 3 times in 5 years, and had surgery twice, she had UTI before and C-diff, now on hospice. thank you for any info.
We have tried to tempt her with milkshakes, etc. which she will drink. the facility keeps her favorite foods in the refrig in the kitchen so we try to get her to eat those.
The doctor suggested and appetite stimulatant (remeron) which is also an anti depressant but she was seeing things and sleeping all the time so it was discontinued. We have decided that we will do what we can and try to offer her snacks in between meals (6 meal a day plan) to see how much we can get her toeat. One thing, she drinks anything they give her so she is taking boost and/or ensure. She loves it. she weighs just 88 lbs but has maintained it for a few months so she obviously is taking in some nutrition. I think the trick is to get your mom to eat things that are high in calories, even is she only takes a few bites. My mom is a little confused also and we found that if we give her a break and then go back to eating, she forgets that she already ate and will take some more food. But you are right, it is hard to watch.
http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/77026/Weight_Loss_pamphlet_A4_format.pdf
I have not been absorbing food properly for some time now & I am on no medications.
I AM SO READY TO leave this earth.
And nutritional supplements such as Ensure or Boost can help, but if your mom's on Warfarin/Coumadin, ask about the effect of a supplement. We were advised by the anti-coagulation clinic we go to that some supplements have higher levels of Vitamin K and will affect the PT/INR value more. For someone who's weak, that interaction might be enhanced.
Another thing to consider is that if your mom is in the end stages, she may not be absorbing her nutrition like she did when she was well. This may very well be what is meant by the body no longer needing the energy it once did. It's been said that in this stage, food can be a disc comfort to the person since the metabolism slows way down to the point where the food just doesn't go anywhere as the body is in the process of shutting down. If this happens to be the case, you really don't want her to suffocate on anything that may be in her stomach when she goes to bed. Going to bed on a full stomach can really leave you miserable all night, even if you're not in end stages. This can lead to other problems later such as ulcers or leaky gut that starts as excess gas that can suddenly trigger acid reflux later. That's why it's so important not to go to bed on a full stomach. Again, you're really going to want to have your loved one evaluated by the doctor. A final idea I thought of would be to see if the doctor would keep her in the hospital a few days to see if she gains weight and improved under their care. If this isn't possible, you may want to stay with her more or maybe even consider taking her with you on a home visit. That way, you'll have a better idea of what's really going on, especially if she happens to improve under other care. If she does, then you'll know that she's being neglected at her current place. If this happens to be the case but she improves under your care or the hospitals, you could very well have a legal case. The first step knowing is taking the initiative to step in and initiate. Taking the initiative is the first step to finding out the answers to your questions. That way you'll know whether or not you're welcome one is being neglected by taking her home and taking care of her for a few days.
not sure what you don't understand about hospice? Hospice is and always will be considered "the end of LIFE"! My mom is also on hospice and in July went to a Hospice Hospital with a TIA. I went to hospital the next day and ask if mom had eaten, they all stated they would be afraid she would aspirate. my response was "so let her lay hear and do what hospice does best", I was furious. at that point entire crew started bringing in things for ME to feed mom. Everyone of them knew they had stepped on my toes because their ATTITUDES changed.
DO NOT LET HOSPICE KEEP YOUR LOVED ONE DOPED UP, they do this to not have to deal with them. REMEMBER THEIR MOTTO IS "THE END OF LIFE"
And being outside in good weather is just relaxing and rejuvenating, unless your mother's just too fatigued to try it. There's nothing like a soft breeze, the sound of birds and the rustle of the trees, especially as the heat gradually fades away and autumn creeps in.