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Hi everyone. It’s been a hard 10 days. Mom is actually, surprisingly doing much better. She does have food and outdoor allergies, so started her with removing milk and cheese products, anything with flour or grain, and went on soft/ mushy foods reintroducing foods (veges & fruits) one at a time until it was confirmed she was having no problem with that particular food. She has about 25 food items she can now eat and is keeping them down, adding at least one or two new ones per day. Her phlegm has slowed down but she still uses a large box of Kleenex every 1 1/2 days. “Thank you” for all of your helpful and concerning replies. Wonderful to know this caring network is available to Caregivers.
Secretions are common. A person with dementia can "forget" how to swallow or fluids and sometimes food that is supposed to get swallowed are taken into the lungs, aspiration. If she is having this problem with foods you can thicken thin foods and fluids. Stopping eating and drinking are also steps that the body takes as End Of Life begins. The body no longer needs the nutrients and she will not feel hunger like you or I would. She will not feel thirst as we would either. If she does not want to eat or drink, do not force it. You can offer but not force. A swab with water to moisten the mouth is good.
Do you have Hospice? They would be of great help. they will have a Nurse come in at least 1 time a week, a CNA will come at least 2 times a week and she / he will give mom a bath or shower (or bed bath) and order supplies that will be delivered. They are a great support.
As all the answers here, I advise you to seek urgent medical advice and to have a swallow evaluation done. My mum was recently hospitalised with aspiration pneumonia, and it's amazing that she ever pulled through. However, not eating could be the next step. I think that acceptance will be the best way for you to cope with the next stage of your mum's illness. It's horrible to see our loved ones not eating, but we just have to make them as comfortable as possible.
I went to the samething with my husband also his nurse order HYOSCYAMINE to reduce secretion . My husband stop eating also only little Jello and some protien drink. Unfortunelly was 5 days he passed this week.
A care facility where they know how to deal with the issue. You can visit her, make sure she is getting the care she needs. It is a very difficult time for you. Step aside love her, remember the good times.
If there are underlying conditions that may cause your mom to struggle to breathe, ask her doctor for recommendations. You may have to seek hospice care. Once a patient is unable to eat or swallow, the dementia has advanced. You don't want her to suffer.
She could also choke even from drinking. I do advise you to seek hospice advice at least. I realize this must be a very emotional time for you but the proper care for your mother with her medical issues should be considered first and very soon. It could make the difference in a possible passing in peace instead of suffering which in time may provide you with a more serene sense of closing to the extent that is possible.
My mother passed almost a year ago. I took a picture of the last image of her tray table. Her water was left untouched.
Sounds similar to what my 104-yr old Aunt has been experiencing for the past few years. It never happens at breakfast, and doesn't always happen at lunch and dinner, but dinner it happens more often. We could never figure out what it was (not GERD, not swallow reflex, not allergies) so here is what she has:
This is fixed by surgery and my Aunt (who has most of her cognitive faculties) has declined treatment. She still gets enough nutrition down to be mobile and healthy but it is torturous to watch her having to gurgle and spit out food along with a whole bunch of clear saliva (or whatever). Sounds like your Mom is not a candidate for treatment, if this is what she has.
This could all be true but she could also have allergies. We are caring for someone that is spitting up phlegm in the spring and summer not in the winter probably not what’s causing it but just thought I’d interject that.
she may be able.to eat thickened liquids and soups. You can get this at a pharmacy. BUT as.others have said, this is a extremely serious situation that needs to be evaluated immediately before aspiration pneumonian sets in or gets worse.
Discuss with doctor. This is an emergency situation and no further feeding should be done until MD/medical team is contacted.
This could be pneumonia with the increase in phlegm and if so could be due to aspiration of foodstuff into the lung. This means no more food until you speak directly with MD, so do call urgent care or advice RN for immediate followup on this. A swallow deficit means that a swallow evaluation needs to be done. It can often be done in home by OT personnel initially. If they find evidence of a deficit there may need to be tranport to hospital for further swallow testing.
Yes, as waytomisery said below, please have your mom's swallowing tested, as her food and drink may be going into her lungs, thus causing aspiration pneumonia. And that is usually fatal. My late husband who also had vascular dementia, developed aspiration pneumonia in 2018 and almost died. And because he almost died, he developed sepsis and septic shock and was bedridden until his death in 2020. The doctor at the ER told me that because of my husbands dementia that his brain was no longer telling his throat to close when eating or drinking, thus allowing his food and drink to go directly into his lungs instead of his stomach. It's very serious so please call her doctor today to get her swallowing tested. And it may also be time to bring hospice on board. My late husband was under hospice care in our home for the last 22 months of his life. I'm quite sure that your mom would qualify for their assistance now.
She may be having trouble swallowing . She needs a swallow evaluation . Purée foods and thickened liquids will possibly be needed , and not solids . Again you need a professional swallow evaluation. She may have aspiration pneumonia , she may be dehydrated as well . Take her to the ER asap . From there you may want to consider placement in a facility or hospice depending on what the docs say .
“Thank You.” Just felt the need to reach out to others and see their thoughts. Was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Very much appreciate your input and reply.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
“Thank you” for all of your helpful and concerning replies. Wonderful to know this caring network is available to Caregivers.
Thanks so much for your feedback; we are thinking about you.
Can you update us?
Have you seen/talked to a doctor yet about this swallow deficit issue?
A person with dementia can "forget" how to swallow or fluids and sometimes food that is supposed to get swallowed are taken into the lungs, aspiration.
If she is having this problem with foods you can thicken thin foods and fluids.
Stopping eating and drinking are also steps that the body takes as End Of Life begins. The body no longer needs the nutrients and she will not feel hunger like you or I would. She will not feel thirst as we would either.
If she does not want to eat or drink, do not force it. You can offer but not force.
A swab with water to moisten the mouth is good.
Do you have Hospice? They would be of great help. they will have a Nurse come in at least 1 time a week, a CNA will come at least 2 times a week and she / he will give mom a bath or shower (or bed bath) and order supplies that will be delivered.
They are a great support.
I do not know if she is home (with you) or in a facility.
No regular water. Only thickened water.
My mum was recently hospitalised with aspiration pneumonia, and it's amazing that she ever pulled through.
However, not eating could be the next step.
I think that acceptance will be the best way for you to cope with the next stage of your mum's illness. It's horrible to see our loved ones not eating, but we just have to make them as comfortable as possible.
My mother passed almost a year ago. I took a picture of the last image of her tray table. Her water was left untouched.
https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/zenkers-diverticulum
This is fixed by surgery and my Aunt (who has most of her cognitive faculties) has declined treatment. She still gets enough nutrition down to be mobile and healthy but it is torturous to watch her having to gurgle and spit out food along with a whole bunch of clear saliva (or whatever). Sounds like your Mom is not a candidate for treatment, if this is what she has.
This could be pneumonia with the increase in phlegm and if so could be due to aspiration of foodstuff into the lung.
This means no more food until you speak directly with MD, so do call urgent care or advice RN for immediate followup on this.
A swallow deficit means that a swallow evaluation needs to be done. It can often be done in home by OT personnel initially. If they find evidence of a deficit there may need to be tranport to hospital for further swallow testing.
My late husband who also had vascular dementia, developed aspiration pneumonia in 2018 and almost died. And because he almost died, he developed sepsis and septic shock and was bedridden until his death in 2020.
The doctor at the ER told me that because of my husbands dementia that his brain was no longer telling his throat to close when eating or drinking, thus allowing his food and drink to go directly into his lungs instead of his stomach.
It's very serious so please call her doctor today to get her swallowing tested.
And it may also be time to bring hospice on board. My late husband was under hospice care in our home for the last 22 months of his life.
I'm quite sure that your mom would qualify for their assistance now.