My Nan has a form of dementia and can only recognise sweets and biscuits when shoppin

[Bec26]

Hi

I'm very concerned for my Nan especially after observing her during her stay over Christmas. She doesn't seem to recognise most foods apart from sweet ones like biscuits and sweets. She tells us she likes 'Hob-Nob' biscuits (english oaty biscuit) and only fruit she enjoys is bananas (whole bunch of 6 disappeared from our kitchen the other night.)

Her memory is a few minutes, then it's repeated several times. We sat down to watch 101 Dalmatians with her and she couldn't even follow what was happening on screen.

Can anyone relate to the sweet foods part?


Thanks

Becky

[Tootsie]

There are many forms of dementia and they all have their own patterns with a wide variety of irregularity and uniqueness. Some patients will repeatedly ask the same thing over and over again. It sounds like your Nan has a preoccupation with those particular type of biscuits. As long as you are able to get nourishing food into her, I see no problem with biscuits at various times throughout the day.

Keep in mind, that you need to treat her much as you would a child. "Of course you can have your biscuit. We'll have our carrot, (or chicken, or peas, or potatoes,) first." Since the biscuits are her one source of recognition, you will discover many creative ways to get hygiene and other tasks accomplished by relying on her "biscuit." Cheerio.

[Jo6]

hello Becky,Welcome.:) I truely am sorry you have a need to be here, but am glad you found the forum.

I'm sorry about your Nan, it is a heartbreaking disease. I don't get by as much lately but I'll try checking in more often.

Tootsie here is an absolute doll. Kind and caring and full of knowledge. You can take her word to the bank for sure.

Sometimes it gets a bit slow here but then it will pick up so don't stop stopping by, ok?

Tootsie's mom has passed on but she still comes back to encouragee everybody.
I cared for my MIL until we had to place her. She isn't doing too good these days. I don't think she knows us any more and that hurts, but only for her. She looks so sad some days. Last week when we went to see her I think for a second she may have remembered me. Then in aaaa blink of the eye the shade goes down and she just looks blank.

Stop by and tell us how your Nan is. I hope to see you again soon. Julia

[Tootsie]

Julia,
It's so nice to see you back here again! I have wondered where you were and how your MIL was doing. I'm sorry to hear that your MIL has progressed into those next stages. The incident you mentioned when your MIL seemed to recognize you for an instant, reminds me of a similar one.

My wonderful BIL developed A.D., and had to be put in a nursing home, with a locked unit ,after he was found wandering at night, in pajamas, shoes, but no socks, on the Interstate near his home. We were attending his son's wedding, and drove many miles to the home where he was living. When he was dating my sister, so many years ago, he had a little verbal, nonsense phrase that he used, when at a loss for words, "O ooooh, la la, si si, aye, aye." His long time companion was walking with him,ourdoors, when we arrived, and she mentioned to him that we had arrived. His expression was that vacant stare, that we all recognize.Then I said that phrase. For just a blink of an eye, his eyes seem to focus, he smiled and then that moment was gone. Later, he looked at us and said "why, why, why? " I am sure he was asking why we were in Ohio. However, he couldn't comprehend our answer.

This forum does seem to help us remember those special moments. Cheerio.