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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.
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I'm not very familiar with Lewy body dementia. I know that it can seriously affect mood, movement and digestion though. I'd discuss with her doctor to see if it's progression of her disease or something else.
As dementia progresses, appetite often diminishes. Here is some information for you on the subject; hopefully, you can glean a tip or two for your MIL:
Why might someone with dementia lose their appetite? Depression - Loss of appetite can be a sign of depression. Depression is common in people with dementia. There are effective treatments for depression, including medication and other therapies. If you suspect that the person you care for has depression, consult your GP. Communication - The person with dementia may have problems communicating that they are hungry or that they don't like the food they have been given. They may communicate their needs through their behaviour. For example, they may refuse to eat or hold food in their mouth. Giving them a choice of food, or using prompts and pictures, may help. Pain - The person with dementia may be in pain, which can make eating uncomfortable. They may have problems with their dentures, sore gums or painful teeth. Oral hygiene and regular mouth checks are important. Tiredness - This can also be a cause of people with dementia not eating or giving up part way through a meal. It can also lead to other difficulties such as problems with concentration or difficulties with co-ordination. It's important to be aware of this and support the person to eat when they are most alert. Medication - Changes to medication or dosage can result in appetite changes. If you think this may be the case, speak to the GP. Physical activity - If the person is not very active during the day, they may not feel hungry. Encouraging them to be active will be good for their wellbeing and may increase their appetite. Equally, if the person is very active or restless (walking about or fidgeting) they may use extra calories and need to eat more to replace them. Constipation - This is a common problem and can result in the person feeling bloated or nauseous, making them less likely to want to eat. Try to prevent constipation by encouraging activity, offering the person fibre-rich foods and providing plenty of fluids. If constipation becomes a problem for the person, speak to the GP.
Encouraging appetite: tips for carers There are lots of ways to increase a person's appetite and interest in food and drink. Knowing the person will help, as everyone has their own routines, preferences and needs. You will also have a better idea about their likes and dislikes. It's also important to think about what they can physically manage. Here are some ideas that may help: Make food look and smell appealing. Use different tastes, colours and smells. The aroma of cooking - eg freshly baked bread - can stimulate someone's appetite. Look for opportunities to encourage the person to eat. For example, if the person with dementia is awake for much of the night then night-time snacks may be a good idea. Give the person food they like. Try not to overload the plate with too much food - small and regular portions often work best. Try different types of food or drinks, eg milkshakes or smoothies. Food tastes may change, so try stronger flavours or sweet foods. Don't stop someone eating dessert if they haven't eaten their savoury meal. They may prefer the taste of the dessert. If food goes cold it will lose its appeal. Consider serving half portions to keep food warm. Use a plate warmer or a microwave to reheat food. If the person is having difficulties chewing or swallowing, try naturally soft food such as scrambled egg or stewed apple in the first instance, before considering pureed food. If you do consider pureed food, seek advice from a dietitian or speech and language therapist to make sure it's nutritious and has enough flavour. Encourage the person to get involved at mealtimes. They could help prepare the food or lay the table. Try to give the person encouragement and gentle reminders to eat, and of what the food is. A relaxed, friendly atmosphere with soft music may help. Use eating and drinking as an opportunity for activity and social stimulation. It may be an opportunity to talk about food from their childhood, and this can be used to encourage appetite. If the person refuses food, try again a bit later. If they continue to refuse food, speak to the GP. It is always best to aim for the least stressful solutions. Common sense and a creative approach often help.
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.
Why might someone with dementia lose their appetite?
Depression - Loss of appetite can be a sign of depression. Depression is common in people with dementia. There are effective treatments for depression, including medication and other therapies. If you suspect that the person you care for has depression, consult your GP.
Communication - The person with dementia may have problems communicating that they are hungry or that they don't like the food they have been given. They may communicate their needs through their behaviour. For example, they may refuse to eat or hold food in their mouth. Giving them a choice of food, or using prompts and pictures, may help.
Pain - The person with dementia may be in pain, which can make eating uncomfortable. They may have problems with their dentures, sore gums or painful teeth. Oral hygiene and regular mouth checks are important.
Tiredness - This can also be a cause of people with dementia not eating or giving up part way through a meal. It can also lead to other difficulties such as problems with concentration or difficulties with co-ordination. It's important to be aware of this and support the person to eat when they are most alert.
Medication - Changes to medication or dosage can result in appetite changes. If you think this may be the case, speak to the GP.
Physical activity - If the person is not very active during the day, they may not feel hungry. Encouraging them to be active will be good for their wellbeing and may increase their appetite. Equally, if the person is very active or restless (walking about or fidgeting) they may use extra calories and need to eat more to replace them.
Constipation - This is a common problem and can result in the person feeling bloated or nauseous, making them less likely to want to eat. Try to prevent constipation by encouraging activity, offering the person fibre-rich foods and providing plenty of fluids. If constipation becomes a problem for the person, speak to the GP.
Continued:
There are lots of ways to increase a person's appetite and interest in food and drink. Knowing the person will help, as everyone has their own routines, preferences and needs. You will also have a better idea about their likes and dislikes. It's also important to think about what they can physically manage. Here are some ideas that may help:
Make food look and smell appealing. Use different tastes, colours and smells. The aroma of cooking - eg freshly baked bread - can stimulate someone's appetite.
Look for opportunities to encourage the person to eat. For example, if the person with dementia is awake for much of the night then night-time snacks may be a good idea.
Give the person food they like. Try not to overload the plate with too much food - small and regular portions often work best.
Try different types of food or drinks, eg milkshakes or smoothies.
Food tastes may change, so try stronger flavours or sweet foods.
Don't stop someone eating dessert if they haven't eaten their savoury meal. They may prefer the taste of the dessert.
If food goes cold it will lose its appeal. Consider serving half portions to keep food warm. Use a plate warmer or a microwave to reheat food.
If the person is having difficulties chewing or swallowing, try naturally soft food such as scrambled egg or stewed apple in the first instance, before considering pureed food.
If you do consider pureed food, seek advice from a dietitian or speech and language therapist to make sure it's nutritious and has enough flavour.
Encourage the person to get involved at mealtimes. They could help prepare the food or lay the table.
Try to give the person encouragement and gentle reminders to eat, and of what the food is.
A relaxed, friendly atmosphere with soft music may help.
Use eating and drinking as an opportunity for activity and social stimulation. It may be an opportunity to talk about food from their childhood, and this can be used to encourage appetite.
If the person refuses food, try again a bit later. If they continue to refuse food, speak to the GP.
It is always best to aim for the least stressful solutions. Common sense and a creative approach often help.