-+My Mom is rapidly declining with dementia. She has always been petite and small, but is now only 80 lbs. We+ encourage all we can to get her to eat, but will only eat puddings, cream soups, ensure, ice cream, but this is getting harder now. I took to a Speech Language specialist and evaluated and said did not need thickened liquids as would choke her and thought needed esophagus dilated, got there and she refused and Dr did not believe worth doing that to her either. Does anyone have an idea or suggestion? I believe her body is shutting down. Thanks to all
Adding in high fat items can boost her calories a little: butter and real cream in her soups and puddings, cheese melted into the soups, nut butters baked into custards and puddings.
I'm a little confused about your comments about the speech and language pathologist workup, generally it is thin liquids that cause choking because they lose the muscles associated with swallowing so fluids slide down into the lungs instead of the stomach, thickened fluids are easier to handle and less apt to cause choking.
My children's great grandmother lived on Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup for decades. Perhaps not the best nutrition, but she liked it and did not have any health concerns due to her limited diet. She had choked on a piece of meat many years before and never ate meat again.
I appreciate everyones help, thanks so !