Dementia and always wanting to eat.

My Mom (91) in assisted living eats yogurt and than asks for more because she does not remember eating it. In a memory care unit since January and has gained 19 pound there!! So I beleive that it is true in my Mothers' case anyway.

Mom would eat anything, anytime, anywhere. I finally began filling our plates in the kitchen rather than put food on the table. I just didn't buy a lot of snacks and things, and what I did buy was a little bit healthier, or was in smaller packaging. Like the cookies in 100 calorie packs. I made sugar free jello and sugar free pudding a lot. Mom needed to lose a little. As happens with dementia, though, things have changed and now it's a challenge getting enough calories and protein in her.

One thing you might do, is look at her medications. Some of them might have side effects of increased appetite. See if the doctor can change her to a med that has reduced appetite instead.

My cousin had it both ways. In the early stages, she didn't eat much. Only popsicles, cake and chips. She had little interest in food and lost a lot of weight. Now that she is in severe stage, she has a hearty appetite. She will eat the snacks that I take her and then turn around and eat her meal too! She obviously enjoys the food. Still, she has lost weight. I think her body can't absorb it much anymore.

Hubby can't remember eating, also. When I tell him, he'll remember.

Interesting. My mother had dementia and had anorexia. To top it off, she couldn't remember if she ate or not, so would always say she did.