Hello, I have a grandmother who is in her 80s with severe Parkinson’s disease. She can no longer move on her own and has a lot of trouble eating. It has gotten to the point where she can no longer swallow any of the foods we give her (she can only take a few sips of Ensure). I have no idea what else to do, she says she’s hungry but can’t swallow anything. I am desperate for any sort of advice/tips/suggestions, I just can’t bear seeing her in this state.
If this is the case your question is now for family and doctor who will have decisions to make. If she is hungry she should be fed. That would mean the placement of a PEG, the insertion of a tube and tube feedings UNLESS your grandmother has stipulated that she will not accept the administration of any feedings by NG, PEG or total parenteral nutrition (as I myself have). This would mean a transfer to Hospice care with the acceptance that your grandmother now is looking at end of life care and comfort care. If none of these decisions were made by your grandmother prior to this inevitability, and she is expressing hunger, then she should have feedings. Any attempts to feed by mouth could and almost certain would result in choking, and of food entering the lungs and causing pneumonia, which is deadly.
I hope the your grandmother's doctor, and her POA are in contact now with one another as to deciding next step decisions. Wishing you good luck.
They have lots of tips and tricks they can show you and advise on the correct texture of her food.
She can be fed and given water, and medications via tube, it's fanatastic!!
Wish we had done it sooner!
We had to do it or she would have starved to death, she also could not swallow.
Once the tube is placed, the only trick is take your time feeding, inject the food slowly ..we started at 2ml ever 5 seconds, and now we're up to 10ml/10sec....these patients with esophageal motility issues frequently have lax esophageal sphinctures so going slow allows the stomach to expand easier, and helps to keep the food from travelling up the esophagus. Also start with smaller feedings more frequently, we feed mom every 2-3 hrs, 5x per day, but she is a tiny woman 89lbs, 5ft2in, we originally began with 6x day.
We have been using an excellent product, called Kate's Milk, it is a complete meal, with REAL ingredients, NOT just chemicals, also importantly for us it is vegan.
We have gone to vegan diet to help with her cholesterol and it has worked amazingly!
Good luck!
My mom had one in her early 80s, with no dementia, She still passed less then 2 months of having it.
All it was was a money maker for the GI doc, since he still billed for his services, even when she was in ICU and the tube feeding had been stopped.
There are many conditions that can cause dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing foods and liquids, such as Parkinson’s Disease, etc. These difficulties in swallowing can cause coughing/choking during eating and drinking, unintentional weight loss, reduced quality of life, and possible respiratory infections, such as aspiration pneumonia.
I had treatment (86 years old) because I have trouble swallowing certain foods. The physical therapist was excellent. not only did she help to get the muscles stronger, but tips on swallowing, like jello, mashed potato etc. I would give it a try.
Best of luck
Best wishes in this difficult time.
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