My dad is disabled and in assisted living....?

Question

he has no short term memory and can't conceptually understand how to make a meal. His food is horrible where he is. Does anyone know of some ideas for things I could do so he would eat? He will eat anything prepared i.e. chips, beef jerkey ect.

Answer 1

That's so sad!

Answer 2

Find out who runs the " Meals On Wheels" program in your area. Social Services or your Community Action department should know.

They deliever meals to people whom can't make meals for themselves, or whom are shut in the house most of the time.

Here is the URL to the Meals On Wheels website. You should be able to find a local branch in your area.
http://www.mowaa.org/
Find local city and state area http://www.mowaa.org/findmealprogram.asp

Also,call up social services and look into an inhome care provider. There are programs that are paid by medicaid or medicare that allow for a care provider to come into the home so many times a week and help with food preperation, cleaning, bathing, anything that the person might need help with.

Serval different places provide this service, but the only one I can think of right away is Social Services. They should know. If not, ask around in your area.

Answer 3

It is my experience that those who are in assisted living become a group of good friends. Each willing to help another. Is it possible you could freeze a little extra dinner and place in a small container, enough just for one meal. Does your dad have a refrig. or freezer? I'm sure one of the other residents would not mind zapping it in a microwave for him, or even a small TV dinner. Although it may not be much, at least you would know he is eating. Look to other residents, they can be a great help and it also gives them a feeling of being needed, and pride that they are helping.

Answer 4

Check the back ground of the assisted living place. Make sure they have no complaints about the same thing. Assisted living is very difficult for you, your family and him of course. Alot of those places just like nursing homes treat the elderly like dirt. Hopefully this isn't the case.

Just inquire about the problem you and your dad have with the food. Be polite about it because you are not there all of the time. Good Luck

Answer 5

i have a good freind whos works with people in the same condition as your father i am going to call her to come over here and answer your question for you :P

hey hi! my name is felicia how are you?? kristy tells me you have a question about how to get your father to eat regular healthy meals other then prepared snack foods etc...although i do work with ppl in similar conditions i cant say my advice would def work but u can try :) i hope your father is in a living situation that either you ..another family memeber or a woker in a home of some sort can do this:

suggest to your father that he "help" make dinner ( this is provideing he is not living in a home where he has to go to a dining room to eat OR you could talk with ppl in the home about getting something worked out ) do not give him sharp utensils or slippery plates or liquids that cna spill easy to work with. let me give you an example.

u tell your father you are going to make spagetti and meat. lead him to the kitchen area and say "dad can you find the pasta for me?" he will probally be confused when he does go to the sink and point inside it and say " do you think the pasta is in here?" he should either say no or i dont know ...if he says i dont know say ...this is where water and dirty dishes go - then possibly go to the refrigerator is and do the same thing- you can say no this is where cold things go etc...do this as much as you want ..he may find it amuseing and u can use your best judgement...eventually get him to where the pasta really is but point to it and let him pick it up ...i suggest having him give u the box for you to open thank him when he gives it to you. go through this till you get to sause and meat ect. drag it out ....your father will get used to this with each day ....do this with all kinds of things .. getting dressed...takeing a bath/shower...etc

once your father has gotten food out maybe say do you think you can help me break the spaggetti or just put it in the pot ( depending on if u break your spaggetti or not ) im sure u can understand the rest .. use your imagination!! once the meal is all done congradulate him ..act like he did it all....this may seem silly but before long he will do more and more on his own ..it has worked for me so many times... i have been promoted with my job because of things i have done with the residents to help them out with simple everyday tasks ...

if you are haveing problems possibly with him wanting to get out and do things .. or talking with other ppl etc ...let my freind kristy know she can give you information to contact me :) have a great day !!

i hope she helped you if you have questions on what she said you can email me at [e-mail] :) my name is kristy

Answer 6

I'm not sure if it's Salvation Army or United Way who runs Meals on Wheels. See if you can get him registered to receive the meals

Answer 7

if he has altzheimers or similar diagnosis, anorexia is very common and truly these people end up on tube feedings for nutrition and eventually many pass away as the disease progresses.

he may be at this point where no matter how hard you try it just wont matter.

could you possibly bring in finger foods for him to try or leave in his room, even those lunchables which are easy to reach for.

Answer 8

if you live close by why not make extra for dinner and take him some?
my dad has always liked leftovers more than fresh.
at least you know he'll be getting one GOOD meal daily.

sorry to hear 'bout dad. i don't know which is worse to loose, long or short term memory. i get surprised when my dad knows who i am. i've always been his 'baby girl'.

Answer 9

ask the nurse that question at the assisted living and good luck and sorry to hear about your dad.