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I'm assuming your Mother is in her home or someone else's and not in a facility? Otherwise who is providing the ice cream to her?

I think she should still have her ice cream but whoever is the on-hands person providing her care can perhaps switch to ice cream bars or sandwiches so that she has a finite amount she can eat at a time (and hide the rest from her). Also consider frozen yogurt or non-dairy ones (there are some tasty ones out there). Would she eat a sundae? Like adding a fresh banana and nuts to one bowl a day?

More info would be helpful.
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Reply to Geaton777
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I understand the concern for sure. My mom tried for years to keep my dad (who had dementia) on a somewhat healthy diet. But he rejected more and more foods and would literally hide whatever she gave him in dresser drawers, under his bed, or throw it in the yard along with plate and utensils (!) rather than eat it. The only things he would eat in his last 4-5 months on earth were one bowl of vanilla ice cream and tiny amounts of orange juice per day. It was that or starvation and believe me, we tried everything. Yes, his bowels were in a terrible state. He lost weight consistently for the last 3-4 years of his life, including the last months.

good luck!!
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Reply to Suzy23
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Why are you worried about  obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, or dental issues? She has a terminal disease and will linger for even more years if you start worrying about and address any of these potential health issues.

Let her eat what she wants. Why prolong her life?
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Reply to Hothouseflower
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Anxietynacy Aug 29, 2024
I agree, I'm just thinking it's probably easier on the caregiver to keep the weight down a little. Easier to help them get around and less appointments.
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I vote for letting your mother eat whatever she darn well wants. I mean hasn't she earned that right at her age? Let her have her "one joy in life."
I better not have either of my children tell me what I should or shouldn't be eating when I get older. Heck they better not try telling me now at my young age of 65.

One of the ladies in my caregiver support group whose mother lived to be 102, shares often how her mother who had Alzheimer's, lived on just ice-cream and cashews for the last 5 years of her life.
Now that is the kind of a diet that I want to be on the last 5 years of my life. I'm just saying.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Drj, I just wanted to apologize for the issues, that really never happens or who we are.

The office will handle it.

Id say actually my mom loves her ice cream and dairy, but in long term it caused me more work because her blood test kept coming back, high calcium, so then cut back more blood work.

So I'm sure cutting her back is a good idea. Sure let them eat what they enjoy to a point.

As for how honestly I have no answers, hopefully others have some good ideas later.

Again so sorry, don't leave us because of someone having a very bad night
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Reply to Anxietynacy
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I vote for a *Reasonable amount*.

Imagine what a nurse does in a hospital.. Or an kitchen assistant in an aged care home.

I think I would serve a second helping of icecream - if asked for it. But that's it. Just as I did for my kids & birthday cake.

Does the issue need to go deeper? I don't think so.

So many people with dementia/ Alzheimer’s or brain injures love love love icecream.
Factors can make people lose their own 'reasonable amount limit'.

Fauty short term memory is a big factor, unable to process appetite messages being sent to the brain, is another. Impulse control - another big factor.

I don't care about the arguement
of: someone is elderly let them eat whatever vs better nutrician argument.
Just go with common sense.
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Reply to Beatty
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I suppose Gemswinner has a point. Decent icecream is fairly healthy, as long as the rest of the diet is OK with not too much sugar. Deep fried chips are much worse!

To regulate it, I would buy the icecream in smaller containers, keep the stock in a small hidden freezer, and bring out a new one a while after she has finished the last. 'Sorry, we've run out - can you make this last tonight?'
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Reply to MargaretMcKen
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drbjoefnp Aug 29, 2024
Thanks, like I said our concern was her health as she gained about 20 pounds in the past 2 months. I appreciate your help.
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Alright I'll crash the gate here. What is the problem? Let her have five gallons a Day if she wants it! You're welcome
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Reply to gemswinner12
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drbjoefnp Aug 29, 2024
Sorry if I offended you with my question, we are truly worried about her health so dropping the F-bomb on a stressful situation is not needed.
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