RE:

[Faye Jones]

As long as all appropriate issues have been evaluated (e.g. dental, swallowing, medical illness, depression) and treated, I would continue to try any new ideas that came my way but at the same time respect their wishes. I have been a nurse a long time and feel that people often choose this arena to exercise control over their life.  After all it is the one thing we can’t make them do.  Nurses find a way around just about everything else r/t their care but not this.  In our grandparent’s day and beyond when extended families lived under one roof caring for their own elderly this was often the course of events and no one thought it strange or wrong. It was just life’s cycle.  Although as good nurses I think we always try to fix everything but sometimes we just can’t.  One thought-we had a speech therapist that felt strongly that the issue was frequently esophageal candidiasis which is not visible but causes pain and a change in the taste of food.  We treated some people and it did work on occasion. We have also put some people on hourly intakes of a hi cal drink like ensure (small amounts like 60cc) and been fairly successful both for hydration and calories.     -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of marsha davy Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 12:06 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject:   Does anyone have any ideas on what to do with a resident that just won't eat. We have tried everything from a high calorie peanut shake to a daily beer. Would like to see some weight gain.