Dementia pts refusing to eat.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 18, 2008

Don't forget that sometimes in the elderly, things taste blander than they do to younger folks. More seasonings might help.

I've seen the sugar thing work well, too. If it takes sugar on the scrambled eggs to get them down, then put sugar on the eggs!

The person or people assisting with feeding need to be unhurried. That might not be the individual's issue, but a management issue. The assistant or nurse shouldn't have so much other work waiting to do that he or she has to hurry through feeding and try to rush the residents.

Lots of good suggestions here!!

SunnyAndrsn · Jul 18, 2008

LOL, we had a dementia pt. spit beets at an aide a few months back. The aide said "What did you do that for?"

Clear as day, she replied "I DON'T LIKE BEETS!"

LOL

for all you future nurses/aides who read this:
if any of you ever come across an elderly red-headed pt with big, brown eyes and an equally big mouth to boot, don't ever, ever force-feed her green veggies.
it will likely result in being spat on your face:
and this poor pt (), being zapped w/haldol and 4 pt restraints.:rotfl:
leslie

SunnyAndrsn · Jul 18, 2008

We try puree and thickened liquids. Small, frequent portions with Boost pudding or Magic Cup type "power pudding" in between meals. Thickened MedPass with meds. Feeding these patients helps for a time as well.

When our dementia pts. lose too much weight we approach the family with the possibility of hospice.

Some long term care facilities do have pts. with tube feedings, we have several right now. Of course, this is always the family's decision. Me personally, if I have dementia this would not be something I'd want.

Anyone have any tips on how to get confused patients to eat?

kstec, LPN · Jul 18, 2008

I've had dementia residents who still know to hold a cup, so they lived on 2 cal or medpass, or whatever each facility calls it. If it was 5-10 cups a shift, than be it. Also, like someone else mentioned, finger food is a good option. Try and find something they like and let them have it whenever. Something is better than nothing. My one resident would propel herself down the hall and I'd hand her a cup of medpass, she's drink it and off she'd go, on her way back I did it again. It's a game and you have to figure out how they want to play. Sometimes it's very frustrating. Good luck and of course make sure they are having bowel movement, don't have thrush, loose, painful teeth, etc.,after that trial and error.

not now, RN · Jul 18, 2008

If I can't get them to eat any type of balanced meal I just give them what they want. One of my residents always had bags of cheetoes and orange fingers but she ate so family was happy. She also would refuse our food but loved any kind of fast food (she was very skinny/bony so family didn't mind) and sweets. One nurse was trying to eat her lunch (McDonald's) at the nurses station so she could chart when a patient fell. The nurse rushed to the patient and our little snacker reached over the counter, grabbed the burger and took off!

Another resident would only eat food if it was drenched with honey. Everything was covered in honey.

It's just a matter of finding what they want and giving it to them. When it gets to the point of not eating at all, family needs to consider comfort care. I strongly believe that not eating is natures way of letting go and it should be respected. I'm all for NG and PEG tubes when nessisary but in an 80+ year old it's sometimes just cruel.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

for all you future nurses/aides who read this:
if any of you ever come across an elderly red-headed pt with big, brown eyes and an equally big mouth to boot, don't ever, ever force-feed her green veggies.
it will likely result in being spat on your face:
and this poor pt (), being zapped w/haldol and 4 pt restraints.:rotfl:
leslie

You aren't alone. If it's green it don't pass my lips! :yeah:

Thanet · Jul 18, 2008

We used to have a little old lady who would refuse to eat unless she paid for it.

'I have never taken 'Charity' in my life and I'm not going to start now!'

So we charged her £1 for Breakfast, £1 for Dinner and again for high tea and supper and 50p for morning tea, 50p milky evening drink.

Total = £5 per day. She was quite happy with this.

So each morning we would give her back that £5 for her daily allowance.

This same £5 of cash was reused again and again, until she became too ill to remember even to do this.

noc4senuf · Jul 18, 2008

I have used lemon ice in the past to stimulate the taste buds. Just a small Tbsp in a med cup is enough.