My mom has lewy body dementia and suffers from hallucinations. The hallucinations are kids and she makes meals for them. My mom then gets upset because the kids (hallucinations) arent eating and throws all the food away. My mom doesn’t want to eat because the kids aren’t eating. Has anyone else dealt with this and if so, any suggestions on how to get her to eat?
I wish doctors would address these issues with their patients and their caregivers.
I was a strong advocate for my mom. She lived with us and I went to all of her doctor appointments.
I asked Mom’s doctors questions, but there is always something new to learn.
It is important to discuss these topics with people who are new to the forum.
A caregiver in a very nice memory care facility told me some time ago that in order to get the residents to do what they have to do, they lie, lie, lie. It's better to tell them something they'll accept - like doctor wants them to shower today - in order to achieve the goal that keeps them safe, clean and healthy. I've grown to understand the wisdom of that!
If your mom is living alone, she shouldn't be.
My mother was comforted by this child who told her that she would be with her until the end.
Your mom’s situation sounds different from my mother’s visions.
I'm not sure if that's possible or not but it's a thought.
Kind of like you dream you broke your arm and wake up and you have been sleeping on your arm for so long you lost the feeling in it.
So sorry you are going through that, it's got to be so hard
They are VERY real. My brother could describe whole garden parties and the participants right down to their ducktail black Elvis-like haircut, white shorts, bare chest and white towel around the neck. Right down to the immigrant woman who was huddled with her baby in the corner, and what each was wearing.
His hallucinations did not last and he was in early stages, died before he went any farther.
The fact that is when it is impossible to control hallucinations with medications (warning: some make already poor balance all that much worse) it is time for memory care placement.
I am really sorry.
Falls under the category that not everything has a "fix".
And until she gets on them you can make sure she's drinking the high calorie Ensures, so she's at least taking in something.
For my husband, I add a little strawberry gelatin, dissolved in hot water first, and mix it with vanilla boost. It tastes like a strawberry milkshake!
I use gelatin because it holds water and has collagen, both beneficial for someone who is not eating well. In fact, jello is good for elders who are not drinking enough liquid.
When mixing jello with a protein drink, a little bit goes a long way! Just one cup of dissolved jello liquid - half of what a small package makes, will flavor 12 cups of vanilla drink, without being too sweet. I mix up a large batch every morning for the day.