I have a few questions that i hope someone can help me out with.


1- is there a cleaner i can make or use like the ones they use in the hospital for cleaning my granny? i'm nearly out. they gave me three bottles after her last operation and i've got maybe one use left.

2- my granny isnt eating much. is there anything i can add to broths to beef it up a bit? i'm blending veggies and she'll take some of that..but when i try meats she wont eat it.

3- what do i do when granny wont eat? this am she spit out her oatmeal and at lunch she only ate 3 teaspoons of soup. and she hates shakes.

quote:

like it takes too much effort to swallow. i dunno.

she really doesnt talk either. she just whispers...and her voice sounds raspy.

Please get a flashlight and check her mouth for signs of thrush. It can appear as whitish patches or even ulcers. Thrush is caused by a yeast and often grows when a patient is debilitated, has been on antibiotic therapy or is immune-compromised. If you DO see symptoms like I described, point this out to the Hospice nurse and they can get a script for a med to treat this. Yogurt and acidophillous milk or tablets can also be of benefit.

Hospice doesn't mean someone is dying TODAY - it means their condition is terminal and that death is expected within about 12 months, give or take. Many more services are available to home caregivers via hospice including bathing/changing aides, palliative care, such as pain medications, etc., equipment needed to keep the patient comfortable, such as electric hospital beds, breathing equipment, suction devices, etc. Speaking about your concerns with the hospice nurse may help identify areas of concern so that they can treat these conditions to help the patient be more comfortable.

Wait a minute did you or did you not initiate Hospice ? Is she a DNR?
Irregardless of what mom wants this lady needs some attention mom can not give her.
If in fact hospice was initiated then call them and tell them what is going on and that you need help.
Sweetheart you should not be put in the middle because of the indecisiveness of your mother to make decisions you may not be able to handle.
Get help

Oh, sweetie, I know this is so very hard. Do keep her mouth moist. it will help her comfort.

thanks all.

wer are still waiting for the hospice nurse to come talk to us. my mom doesnt want to let go but seeing granny liket his is tearingher up as well.

thanks for all the recomendations for helping to clean granny. its too hard to sponge bather her and just rolling her over to change her is difficult. she has no strength and groans and moans when i have to shift her around for cleaning.

she did not eat today....i'll put a spoon of something in her mouth....and she keeps it in her mouth forever. i have to coax her to swallow and it looks almost painful? like it takes too much effort to swallow. i dunno.

she really doesnt talk either. she just whispers...and her voice sounds raspy.

Yeah good one BC I LOVE the Toothettes those are great to have I carry a bunch of them with me at all times.
Another thing too TM I was speaking to someone today about hospice.
The thing is Hospice if its recommended by her PCP then Ill tell you this I get many people who are afraid of this word but you need to look at it in a different light and maybe explain it to your gran like this.
It is a service Medicare provides to her free of charge meaning all her meds will be paid for you can have a nurse come in and give her a bed bath or shower everyday or other, tend to wounds if need be, you have a 24 hour hotline to call in case something comes up you need an answer to, respite care meaning there are traveling nurses that can come in for 4-8 hour shifts, ttl 24 hours of care for the duration of hospice, may be different for your state but you can ask them about this and other services they provide and the best part about this is Iv actually had "graduates" from hospice meaning they "survived" and are here to talk about it
Try that on gran and see if she changes her mind ie appeal to her pocket book and make sure she hears you when you say she can graduate from hospice so why not take advantage of this service
Free! most folks dig that word

Another thing about lack of appetite...even if there seems to be another expaination, check out basic oral hygiene. It is hard for food to be appealing if there is yesterdays leftovers still wadded up in between the cheek and gums, or other places. They sell these little sponges on a stick that can be used to moisten the mouth but can also be used to gently clean those places where food is likely to accumulate and give a horrible taste to the mouth. Mom still has many of her own teeth and I have to check up on this 'little chore' behind several of her CGs. It is the first thing I check on when I hear she is not eating well. You can use a child's size tooth brush and diluted minty mouth wash. She can spit into one of the small kidney bean shaped basins they usually send home with a patient from the hospital.

DOCHKA, you left out TARTER SAUCE..!!!! Lots of Old Bay . Seriously, it seems that the signal taste for sweet is the last to fade. Flavors need to be added but Mom won't tolerate any pepper (green ,red, black). No one thing holds true for everyone. We all wait to hear a new trick, so please share if you find something that works. It is good that my Mom has no dietary restrictions. But really right now I am not sure how much I would pay attention to them. (I don't recommend ignoring doctor's orders.)

Mom wants very small amounts of what she ate as a child changed to what she can chew and swallow now. Yep, I will put bacon grease in her squash since she gobbles it up then.

Can Granny tell you what she likes? Please, if she is confused, DO NOT ask her what she would like. There are way too many possible answers and she is likely to shut down. This is where your Mom might help. What and how did Granny fix back then? See what can be done to make those dishes appropriate for her now.

Proteins are a trick but there are many protein powders available to blend in with other foods. What BG mentioned (megace) does help increase appetite and is available by prescription.

http://www.walgreens.com/store...vAction=push-product

I love this cleaner I found online at Walgreens.
I bought a small squeeze bottle to mix warm water with it and when mom is on the toilet I can squirt her "peesh" area really well.

My store didn't have it. I had to order it online. There is also a no-rinse hair wash made by the same maker.

As far as eating. My mother will NOT eat bland food! It seems her taste buds are not as tuned in as they used to be. I have to put ketchup, mild salsa, ranch dressing, italian dressing, teriyaki sauce, honey mustard sauce, garlic powder or sugar and cinnamon on her food. Anything to perk it up a bit or she won't eat it.

Hi, Hon, Your Mom is still "NO DEAL" with hospice? There are many cleansing/bathing products out there. Are you looking for no water no rinse for ease or do you need to watch all pennies?

There are some really convenient things out there but you do pay for it. In a pinch but not all the time I will use a product called Comfort Personal Cleansing Bath Ultra Thick Washcloths. Those come in an 8 pack and you can warm the pack in a microwave. Also useful are Premium Fresh'n Up personal wipes there are 48 in a pack and they are large (8x12.5 ") but you can't warm them. (Both available at WalMart and many pharmacies).

If you ask at most pharmacies or medical supply stores, they can point you to the same type of products that the hospital gave you. Just carry a bottle with you when you go. There are many cleansers out there that don't require water or rinsing if that is the point, but a warm wet wash cloth and a bowl of warm clean water with very mild (like for infants)soap can work. I find things for Mom in the baby department when I have problems or get in a pinch.

I started off with a remark about hospice because you had said her doctor had recommended it. Sometimes if a loved one really is reaching the point where body functions slow down/ shut down. Eating is a very uncomfortable burden. That doesn't mean you should quit trying to find ways. Watermelon is sweet, full of moisture and some fiber. It is unlikely to cause choking. With Mom, we have reached a point, of 3 meal times and 3 snack times. Snacks are puddings, fruits, jellos, that sort of thing, it is too bad she doesn't like shakes, but I am curious what types you have tried. We can use an ensure blended with some benefiber and chopped frozen friut and ic cream. She will usually drink about 1/2 and the rest goes in the freezer(stirred in 20 minutes). Mom was good with oatmeal until recently but quickly takes a nap now if oatmeal is in front of her. (She will still eat it if I add butter, cinnamon, blueberries, and don't let it get cold, some brown sugar and a dash of salt helps too.)

Are you talking about Perineal cleaner hun?
Is the smell of urine high?
Put a capful of vinegar in a pan of warm water and use a washcloth to wipe down good also if you can sit her on the toilet or commode rinsing down the peri area on a regular basis cuts down the odor.
Use a cupful of vinegar in the wash and hang out to dry in the sun then pop the items in the dryer to soften them up,
Add a nutritional drink like Ensure or its equivalent to her daily intake.
Hates shakes as in ice cream shakes?
How about pudding or jello.
Honey I dont know what stage shes at but it sounds serious so at this time anything she will eat is preferable.
Ask her PCP about Megace it works for some it might help you