I'm usually at the NH daily to help mom with a meal but sometimes (like today) I just pop in at the end of lunch and find that she hasn't eaten more than a few bites, if anything. If she was at home I would make sure she had something later but in the NH I'm not sure she does, especially since she needs to be fed and there is an afternoon shift change by snack time. I'm just wondering what the normal way to handle this is at other nursing homes?
I know they keep count of what they eat and drink, but I don't hear about it unless I ask and at this point I'm as tired of always asking about something as they probably are. Mom's definitely slowing down, but I last winter thought she wouldn't see another spring and here we are almost a year later.
One day at a time.
I try to be there for one meal each day so I see what is going on in the dining room. Slumber seems to be the norm at lunch, I'm sure that over half the food is wasted as many residents eat very little, if anything at all - this is true for those who can eat on their own as well as the ones like mom who are being fed. I sympathize with the aides, if they won't wake up long enough to eat what more can they do? I've had trouble myself getting mom to wake up to eat, but I can usually get her to finish her soup and juice, she doesn't need the rest.
I guess my frustration is that the routines are maintained regardless of the fact they aren't working for many -the majority? - of residents, what good is putting a check mark on a form saying you have provided the required balanced meal of xyz calories if you know that it is not actually being eaten?
Does your mother like yoghurt? Can you keep something like that handy for top-ups, if she feels like an extra little something when you get there?
DH passes on solid foods as often as not and prefers his Hot Chocolate (ensure plus cocoa & Barlean's) with Ice Cream. We've been doing this all year and he's actually getting more cognitive and even willing to exercise now.
Still has Sundowners - but that seems to depend on how tired he is and if he can see me in the room. He might not know me before his nap, but he knows me upon waking. I learned to just go with it.
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