Eating can be difficult for people with later-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Members of myALZteam say loved ones become hard to feed, don’t recognize food, have difficulty swallowing, or lose their appetites. “My hubby has trouble with food falling off the spoon or fork and it’s frustrating for him,” wrote one member. “My father doesn’t recognize a lot of foods and often refuses [to eat],” shared another. Many people with Alzheimer’s crave childhood comfort foods. “My husband will only eat peanut butter and jam, bologna, hot dogs, and chips,” said one caregiver. Another’s spouse “just wants waffles for dinner.” In some cases, members notice their loved ones trying to eat non-food. “My husband has been eating napkins for two weeks. Who knows what else he’s eaten?” wondered one myALZteam member. “Mine folds up napkins like origami and puts them in his pockets. I have to hide the paper,” wrote another.

On myALZteam, caregivers laugh and cry about the challenges of feeding loved ones with Alzheimer's. One member put it in perspective: “Humor is a top-10 requirement for caregivers, along with love, patience, empathy, eyes in the back of your head, retrieving everything they lose or hide, broad shoulders so we don't take everything to heart, smiling even when we’re sad, coping with all situations thrown at us, and the ability to work under stress.”

On myALZteameam, the social network and online support group for family and friends caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Eating behavior is one of the most discussed subjects.

Here are some conversations about eating behavior:

• "He now doesn’t recognize a lot of foods and often refuses without trying."
• "Mom ate a FULL bowl of the soup. It was a little bowl but she ate it."
• "My mom is forgetting how to swallow pills. She tries to eat them. Any ideas to help her?"
• "My dad has late-stage Alzheimer's and doesn't want to eat anymore. How can I help him eat more?"
• "My dad is now not allowed to have napkins because he is eating them. Anyone else had this issue or anything like it. It has been going on for two weeks who knows what else he has eaten. So now I have to watch more closely and start locking up things that could really harm him."

Can you relate? Have another topic you'd like to discuss or explore? Go to myALZteam today and start the conversation. You'll be surprised just how many others may share similar stories.

Feel free to ask a question here.