Monday, July 20, 2009 Jacquelyn 84 asks

Q: My Nana is in Stage 7 alzheimer's and she's starting to have swallowing problems please answer

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this site,I was hoping someone here could explain to me what to expect next with my Nana,She's had alzheimers since about 1995 and it was only diagnosed in 2000 since then she's had a few major strokes and from what I've read it sounded like she was in stage 4 then,Now she's only saying a few words like mum or I love you and she's confined to her chair or bed and when I went and saw her on the weekend I noticed she was having thick drinks,which from my understanding is to do with swallowing problems and she's on oxygen in the night time which has started a few months ago and her hands and legs a always so icy cold even with the heater on and blankets,What I want to know is when they start getting swallowing problems does this mean the end is near?

And if she needs a feeding tube can the person with guardianship or power of attorney over her refuse it ? I'm really worried cos I wouldn't want my Nana to suffer or starve to death, her adopted daughters have power of attorney and guardianship over her and they don't care what happens to her ,they just took her money and dumped her in the biggest dump and they dont see her and her real daughter is nutty and thinks it's amusing watching her own mother suffer.

I really needs some advice please I'm begging you for the sake of my Nana she's my world she helped me when I needed help I want to help her when she needs help too

Thank you in advance xxx

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Answers (4)

Carol Bradley Bursack, Health Guide

7/20/09 7:19am

Take care,

Carol

Jacquelyn 84

7/21/09 3:22am

Thanks Carol for your kind words it's much appreciated

7/21/09 1:26am

Hi Jacquelyn, I cannot answer the part about cold feet and hands because my FIL has not entered into stage 7 yet. However, about swallowing problem, I know this is typical of stage 7. How late I am not sure depending on how much she can eat. The feeding tube is controversial. The AD patient would suffer with pain as the tube is installed on the stomach and the AD patients would be confused and have pain over the wound. At some point, there is no need to have feeding tube. The hospice will take care of that. The details I am not sure, but I know the tube may not be suitable for AD elderly. (I think it is important for young disabled people to have feeding tube if they can live a long life.)

Many people have this experience. A friend of mine had set up hospice in her home for her Mom and she was really devoted to her Mom and was with her personally all the time. But she didn't give her Mom feeding tube and her Mom died in the home hospice with her loving attention.

Hope this helps,
Nina

Jacquelyn 84

7/21/09 3:21am

Hi Nina,

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and stories with I really appreciate it I just hope my Nana passes away peacefully in her sleep before she needs a feeding tube.

Thanks again

Jacquelyn xxx

Carol Bradley Bursack, Health Guide

7/21/09 8:10am

Amen to that, Jacqueline.

Carol

Dorian Martin, Health Guide

7/22/09 5:35pm

Hi, Jacquelyn,

We also experienced swallowing issues with my mom. In our case, we opted not to have a feeding tube since that was in alignment with Mom's wishes. Mom died about 5 months after this decision was made, but her death was caused by her poor lungs rather than a feeding issue. I wrote about this situation at:

http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/42/8522/moms-feeding-tube

As we thought about our decision, I was warned about the potential adverse situation that can be created through insertion of a feeding tube, based upon a state's laws. So you may want to take that into account in your decisionmaking.

Take care and keep us posted!

Dorian

Jacquelyn 84

7/25/09 6:53am

Hey Dorian,

Thank you for sharing your story with me,it's really made me think hard about what to do with the feeding tube issue,As it stands were going to feed her pureed food for as long as she can handle it and just hope before she needs a feeding tube she passes away peacefully in her sleep,It's so frustrating seeing her the way she is ,I just feel helpless,My Nana is such a wonderful woman she's done so many wonderful thing in her life and seeing it end like this is heart breaking.

Thanks again for your support and deepest sympathies on the loss of your mom

Take care

Jacquelyn xxx

Dorian Martin, Health Guide

7/26/09 3:48pm

Hi, Jacquelyn,

The decline in a loved one's mental and physical state due to Alzheimer's is heartbreaking. I really appreciate that you are there for your Nana. I hope you'll continue to spend time with her during this difficult period.

Take care and keep us posted!

Doiran

granny

7/24/09 10:18pm

i am in the same boat you are.Hard to think that the end is getting close. My mom is now at the end stage which they tell us is 1wk to year. She has gone back to baby state, chewing fingers, pureed food,daipers,mums, and yells alot, she can still swallow but not sure how long. keep intouch about you nana.

Jacquelyn 84

7/25/09 6:14am

Hey Granny,

The only thing we can do is try to make them as comfortable as possible,I'm trying to make eating for my Nana more enjoyable as I could only imagine how the pureed food tastes so I've started making smoothies and making foods that a easy to swallow like mash potatoes with cheese (melted) and grounded mince with sauce also gonna start dicing chicken and find new ways to make food more easier to handle,also I've bought my nana 2 snuggly blankets as now she's confined to a chair and bed so I find it easier to keep the blankets on her and I take make up with me when I go see her just to make her feel special even though I dunno if she realizes it but to me it feels like I'm giving her dignity every woman likes being dressed up

Good luck with your Mum ,this disease is so cruel it takes away our love ones memories but they'll always be remebered by us,We can show them love,respect them and make this sad part of there life comfortable

Take care

Jacquelyn xxx

Q: My Nana is in Stage 7 alzheimer's and she's starting to have swallowing problems please answer

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