My grandfather is having a tough time getting my grandmother to eat. At times she is very stubborn and says she isn't hungry and won't eat. Other times my grandfather can feed her without difficulty, but she doesn't eat very much. I had suggested meal replacement shakes such as slim fast, but she doesn't like those. It seems non-solid food is the way to go right now, and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions or experiences with what types of foods work best at this late stage of AD.

I have heard that baby food works well, but I don't know for sure. I read that you'd not let the person see the jars of baby food but put it in another bowl so it's not insulting.

My BIL's mom's friend is a caregiver to his Mom. She is at the late stages and just wants sweets. She really likes ice cream and sorbet.

I hope this helps!

Katrina

Aitan,

One of the harder things to deal with is the loss of appetite with our LO's. Sadly, it is just one more manifestation of this disease.
And when the sense of smell is lost, loss of appetite often follows. Usually only basic tastes remain: sweet, sour, salty.

You might try to puree some of her favorite foods -- the flavor remains but the texture is easier to swallow. Since nutrition is no longer a priority, you might tempt her with milkshakes, pudding, ice cream, whipped jello, applesauce, etc. Yogurt with blended fruit is always good, too. For nutrition you can make milkshakes with ice cream and Ensure or Boost -- they now have some more appealing flavors (strawberry, chocolate, banana, butter pecan.....) I eventually gave my mom #2 baby foods, and she seemed to especially like the fruits and desserts.

Do keep frequently offering her snacks and small meals. She'll eat what she wants. The "atmosphere" surrounding eating is more important than the amount eaten. She should be able to enjoy what she chooses to eat.

Don't try to force your grandmother to eat. Even though she can't verbalize, her body knows it no longer needs as much fuel as it prepares to shut down.