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AinSeattle Asked September 2021

How do we avoid the tummy troubles?

The local favorite restaurant of MIL has sold several times in the 40 years it has been open but she doesn't remember this due to dementia. She likes to eat out regularly and insists we go to her favorite place for every birthday, holiday, or when she wants to have/provide a "treat". The problem is recently this place has made every person in our family sick at one outing or another -- even her though she doesn't remember this and claims she has never been sick. One person even ended up in the emergency department an hour after eating there. We dread eating out with her as she throws a tantrum if we don't agree to eat at this specific place. We've taken her to other places and she claims she doesn't like [insert type] of food (she does because we fix it for her at home) or they didn't have anything for her to eat (hey, it has a 4 or 5 or 6 page menu) or she wasn't served what she ordered (umm, we are/were there when she orders), or any other excuses she can say, etc.. We don't want to diss the latest owners. What actions can we take to avoid us getting sick at her "best food ever" dive?

AinSeattle Nov 2021
Thanks for all the good advice. We've finally got her away from the place causing all the troubles and though she complains, it isn't like she can do anything about it now that her driver's license has been revoked. This happened in the two months since the original post. Along with following the advice given and with losing her license, she now has no way to go out to eat without our help and no options beyond where we take her.

JoAnn29 Sep 2021
My daughter can't eat chicken wings from a certain place in town. Makes her deathly sick.

Tell a fib, they closed because of COVID.

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Bridger46146 Sep 2021
No one has to get stomach problems because of the whims of your MIL. The next time she asks, go somewhere else. just don't take her that place. Let her throw all the tantrums she wants. If she throws tantrums like a toddler, treat her accordingly.

MJ1929 Sep 2021
Uh, I'd be contacting the local health department and reporting the restaurant. Something's not right there.

That might solve all your problems.

polarbear Sep 2021
Would she believe that her favorite food dive has.moved to a new location? And the name changed as well?

If it helps, use your computer to make up a flyer on colorful paper announcing that such and such restaurant (her favorite) has relocated to a new/better location under a new name. Same great food. Then show it to her.

Daughterof1930 Sep 2021
Just don’t go there again. Her wishes aren’t your commands. Don’t argue over it or even discuss it again. Tell her where you’re going, a place you like the food, and give her the option to go along or not

Geaton777 Sep 2021
Does your MIL have dementia? Are you her caregiver? How old is she? Maybe just use "therapeutic fibs" to make reasons why she can't be taken to her "favorite" place, like, "They are closed for renovation and we don't know when they'll reopen." etc.

You are under no obligation to cater to her whims if they create other unhelpful challenges or an unpleasant time together. Or, just get her meal "to go" from her "favorite" place and have her eat in.
AinSeattle Nov 2021
Yes, she has moderate (moving into severe) dementia. We (husband, only child (adult), and I) are her caregivers. She is almost 90.

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