My mother drinks around 3 Boosts every day in addition to yogurt for lunch, oatmeal for breakfast, and then something for dinner, but she doesn't seem to be gaining weight. Any thoughts? I would think drinking 3 boosts every day would have a positive effect on her weight.
You should start feeding your mother full fat ice cream shakes made with full fat milk, high calorie meals like a chicken pot pie from Boston Market and things of that nature that are LOADED with calories if you want to see her gain weight. These foods are what was suggested to my DH when he needed to gain weight after a triple bypass surgery in 2020. High fat/high calorie foods for a few months until he gained back some weight he'd rapidly lost; same thing after his liver transplant; supplemented with VHCB (very high calorie Boost which tastes like chalk). What she's eating now is what dieters eat to lose weight.
If she's eating high sugar content and does not have diabetes, I wouldn't worry about it b/c a person with dementia loves sweets, so she'd likely be amenable to milkshakes.
With Parkinsons and dementia going on, she could be approaching end of life now which would cause her to lose weight no matter how much she eats. That could also be what's happening IF you feed her appropriately, IF she agrees to eat what you give her, and IF she continues to lose weight or not gain weight with a very high calorie diet. Then you may want to get a hospice evaluation going forward.
Good luck
She would even say to me that she only ate because she knew that she had to take a few bites. She claimed that she wasn’t hungry anymore.
Plus the tremors are bothersome.
How far along is her Parkinson’s disease. My mom suffered with tremors and lack of strength due to her Parkinson’s disease.
I had to cut everything very small for her. She still only took a few bites. She would eat a bit of ice cream. She drank ensure sometimes.
as much as possible, it's good to eat yummy, scrumptious, REAL food, with good nutrients. (not packaged protein shakes, bottled food, bottled drinks, etc.) -- but real protein (vegetables also have protein). if she has trouble swallowing, it can be boiled, pureed, made softer.
it also helps to eat with company. no one feels like eating much when they're alone. eating together with another person also eating, is more enjoyable.
every situation (and causes for the situation) is different.
...if my elderly LO knows there's a yummy dessert waiting after finishing the plate, the speed of eating increases by 1,000,000,000,000.
(i'm like that too 🙂).
I was familiar with PEDIATRIC FTT, but the designation on my LO’s Death Certificate was a new one to me. She ate about 50% of her pulverized meals + frequent servings of extra nutritious supplements right up until her death, but definitely did not maintain anything like her typical weight.
Have you asked her medical care person about your concerns?
thyroid problems?
My mom lost 17lbs after a hospital/rehab fiasco in April 2021 & her tsh was low, wasn't gaining weight. Once her doctor lowered the levothyroxine dose she started to gain some weight.
We all experience muscle loss (sarcopenia) as we age. Exercise and protein are helpful to maintain muscle. Not sure if your mother will be able to exercise, but you can get more protein into her diet.
Again, make every bite count for higher calories. Aim for 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily. Good luck.
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