I just bought groceries yesterday and she has eaten about half. She sits and grabs a bag of granola and continues to eat it and then a half hour later says she hungry and grabs something else. I cannot afford groceries, let alone having them only last a week. Sometimes she wants me to make her lunch so, I will and then she won't eat it. She seems to just want to munch on stuff all day and night. What should I do? Should I hide everything and tell her she cannot have any snacks?
Let me ask you, is your mother gaining weight? This is honestly something, if she will agree to it, that should be checked by the doc.
As to food costs, I am assuming your Mom is on social security. While you ARE living together, I hope that the shared living expenses thing will help you. And mind, not getting sweets, salty stuff and tangy stuff. Keep it boring. Beans and rice and rice and beans and you can sneak out for your OWN quarter pounder with cheese, fries and a soda on your own time. If it's tasty, she will eat it.
So WILL I. You have potato chips in there and I am around? They are GONE, hon. So it's carrot sticks and celery. That'll last longer.
It could be that she's no longer able to accurately read her body signals. Or, she forgot that she just ate, or it could be a form of OCD which is not uncommon in people with certain types of dementias. I would discuss this with her doctor.
It is reported that a huge percent of those over 60 are overweight or obese so almost everyone seems to think they are hungry, dementia or not. Many eat from boredom or loneliness. The food is purposefully processed to create cravings. That doesn’t help.
Most people won’t overeat fresh fruits and veggies.
My SIL used to padlock her pantry to keep her teenagers from cleaning it out, so it’s not just seniors who are driven to excess.
If she is one who binges then she may eat until all is gone or until she is ill so having access to too much food could be dangerous if she is a binger.
So yes, if you are going to bring it home, you probably should hide it. Easier not to bring it home. And do make her healthy snacks.
You continue to seem very overwhelmed with it all. Are you educating yourself more about this horrific disease of dementia? I only ask because if you were, none of what your mom is doing would surprise you as it comes with the disease.
I know you say that you're working on getting your mom placed in the appropriate facility, and I hope that is true as you seem to be way over your head here with your moms care.
But for now, just give her healthy choices to snack on along with her 3 meals a day.
I do hope and pray that you get her placed soon.