My mother is in a memory care ALF. She has been there over 3 years. Last June she started not eating. No matter how much I encouraged her she wouldn't eat. I tried all different things to get her to eat but to no avail. She will only eat ice cream. She refuses to drink Ensure. All of her blood work has come back good and does not have a uti. Is this a part of the process of the progressive dementia? She used to participate in all the activities but now she is refusing to go on any outings and doesn't want to leave the facility. She has been seen by a psychiatrist who has put her on an antidepressant in addition to the anxiety medicine she takes. What can be done for her or is this a stage of the disease?
Here's a link for a brochure that really helped me as I was reading information so that I could act on behalf of my loved one. I've been told by others that it was helpful to them too. It's written by a doctor and provides a lot of helpful infomation about late stage dementia and loss of appetite, etc. Specifically, pages 15-18.
http://avoidablecare.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Sharpe-Handbook-A-Caregivers-Guide-to-Advance-Dementia.pdf
I'm so sorry to hear of your mom's decline. I would encourage the ice cream, as long as she's able to tolerate it. From what I have read, the desire to eat does diminish and even if nutrition is provided, the body may not be able to properly utilize it. The article explains it better than I can.
Plus note that as we get older we lose our sense of taste.... sometimes that sense of taste is due to the after taste of medicines. I remember my parents were always eating a lot of sweets like cupcakes, ice cream, pies, cakes, etc.