Weight Loss and Alzheimer's

As Mom has gone through the disease process, she has had problems with weight loss on and off. She is now in the most difficult stretch of weight loss she has experienced thus far. We are clinging to the 90# bench march. We have been very aggressive with adding calories. This comes in the form of lots of butter, adding peanut butter to lots of items and lots of snacks. Mom has two complicators including lactose intolerance and diabetes. Ice cream, high calorie desserts, and many other of the typical answers, are out of the question. Mom, of course grew up in an era which thought butter was a healthy food!! Butter has been one of our largest tools. One day when I came, I asked how her lunch was doing. She unprompted, said, "I would love more butter, so tell her to 'pinch' some." I laughed at this reference because 'pinch' was a term we used to use when I was a kid, but I have not heard this in a while. It was also a great day as she had initiated a suggestion regarding her own care!

Adding calories is simple, but not easy. finding something your loved one likes, in a quanity which they will consume in large enough helpings to make a difference, while avoiding the allergies, intolerances, and disease process is complicated. The difficult part is maintaining this approach, everyday, several times a day. If we can navigate through all of these obstacles, we can maintain their need for a huge number of calories. Maintaining your loved ones need for calories and thus their weight ultimately will increase their quality of care and quality of life!!

May God keep you in the palm of Her hand.