She wants to eat constantly. she forgets she eats,sometimes after about 10 mins. I cannot keep food in MY fridge because she will eat anything that is in it. She ate a pat of butter one night. And she eats all day and night. I have tried giving her a sleeping pill but it doesn't work. I can't keep my yogurts in the fridge because she eats them. I have tried hiding them behind other things and on the door behind bottles. She finds them. She likes tangerines but will eat the whole bag in one afternoon! She likes chocolate kisses and if I buy them she eats a small bag a day. I feel like a prisoner in my own house! I take the cereal away because she will eat 6-7 bowls a day. She can use the microwave sometimes (sometimes she burns stuff) and I took knobs off stove. If I tell her she just ate she will say "Well ,can't I eat again-I want to." If I take everything away she will bother me every 10 minutes asking for food. Any suggestions????
The thing that I was always afraid would happen, was that food would become a power struggle. Where mom wouldn't want to eat anything good in favor of filling up on junk if it was readily available to her. She had never really watched her diet, as she was so active in her "previous life" before dementia and arthritis. So I did try to make sure meals were more balanced. I often made sugar free Jello pudding for dessert. Hope you've gotten some ideas, and I can reassure you that you are in good company here.
I think that my cousin, who also has dementia, would also eat like that if she were not in Memory Care. She can't since the food is only available when they serve the meals and snacks. I take her meals and snacks as well and she seems to devour anything that I bring.
I think I might supervise her food intake and just limit it some, so she won't get sick. If she asked if she can eat again, I might respond, Sure, very soon. And just keep repeating that answer until the appropriate time for her meal or snack.
You might try keeping her a little busier if possible, so that she's not always thinking of food, maybe even away from the house. Have you looked into adult day care? Certainly try redirecting her attention. Last resort: child locks on the refrigerator and pantry. Just remember that this is today's behavior, it will soon change to something else. So sorry that you are feeling like a prisoner, hope others chime in with other ideas.