nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by Missy @ 07:31 PM September 10, 2008

Missy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:31:45 -0000

Bummer about Meals on Wheels! But I can see where she's coming from. It probably could be intimidating to have a stranger sitting around your house.

Has anyone thought about adult day care for your mother-in-law? It really sounds like her days need more, if she's able. I've visited a few centers and they have great activities, such as chair exercises, classes, games, movies, etc. Think anyone would be willing to pursue that?

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by kath0362 @ 02:27 AM September 10, 2008

kath0362 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:27:13 -0000

Thanks to Missy and LauraL for giving me good suggestions. We have tried Meals on Wheels in the past but she didn't like it because she didn't want strangers around. I have suggested that they just knock and leave it outside on a patio table but "the boys" aren't interested in pursuing this.

I will check out those web sites. Thank you again.

Kathy

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by Missy @ 01:18 AM September 10, 2008

Missy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:18:57 -0000

Hi Kath,

What immediately comes to mind is the Meals on Wheels program. Check out Caring's Local section for the number of your local Area Agency on Aging. They can give you information about that program. It may help your mom get some nutritious food (and company) during the daytime hours.

Let us know how things work out for your mother-in-law. I think you're right to be concerned.

Missy

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by LauraL @ 09:12 PM September 09, 2008

LauraL — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:12:30 -0000

Hi Kath!

Wow, I understand your concerns. That doesn't seem like a very healthy lifestyle for her at all.

I wonder if you could go ahead and contact a local geriatric care specialist anyway, to at least talk and ask where you could start with nutritional guidelines, at the very least: http://www.caring.com/local?type=geriatric-care-managers

And here's an article with updated nutrition information for older folks: http://www.caring.com/news/food-pyramid-for-older-adults-gets-an-update

I hope this helps, and do check in and let us know how things are going!

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by kath0362 @ 07:26 PM September 09, 2008

kath0362 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:26:03 -0000

My mother-in-law lives alone and is "looked after" by her devoted 58 year old single son who lives about two miles away. My husband and I live 2 1/2 hours away. The boys are her only children and she has been twice widowed. She has had minor strokes in the past and the signs of dementia are increasing. She doesn't cook anything, clean anything, walk, shop, excercise, garden, do puzzles, read, watch tv or socialize with anyone --- other than the one son in the evening.

My question is what are her nutrional needs? The "devoted son" stocks her house with high sugar food, gallons of chocolate milk and ice cream and bowls of cheap, breakfast bars. He comes by and either fixes dinner or takes her out every day at about 5 pm. He then stays until about 10 or 11pm.

She is left completely on her own from late evening until 5pm every day. She won't even fix herself a bowl of cereal in the morning and will not look in the refrigerator for a sandwich. She "says" she knows how to use the microwave but no one has seen her do that for years. Other than munching on treats during the day, I think she only gets one meal a day, in the evening.

I would like her to see a geriatic specialist...but I'm the only one who thinks she needs to do anything different than what's she's doing.

Thank you

Recent Posts in 'nutritional needs for 89 year old' | Caring.com

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by Missy @ 07:31 PM September 10, 2008

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by kath0362 @ 02:27 AM September 10, 2008

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by Missy @ 01:18 AM September 10, 2008

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by LauraL @ 09:12 PM September 09, 2008

nutritional needs for 89 year old posted by kath0362 @ 07:26 PM September 09, 2008