My husband is having serious trouble using silverware. He is now in the later stage of AD and this motor skill for picking up a utinsil, having it face in the right direction, scooping or forking the food, and then trying to get it to his mouth is fading fast. I usually have to feed him after he has tried to get food on his spoon or fork and not much is getting to his mouth. Sometimes he's ok with my help and sometimes he looks at my like "what the hell are you doing." It's a fine line to walk (actually one of many fine lines I walk since he is getting more irritated these days with so many things) but we do what we have to do. I have changed many things such as using a plastic glass, using bowls instead of plates.........ah, and my newest light bulb awakening.........finger food. Much of the time he uses his fingers anyway no matter what he is eating. I used to try and insist that he use utinsils but all of a sudden I'm thinking.......what am I thinking? Let him eat it anyway he can. At least I think he feels he's still doing it on his own. In reality, I don't know if he even has the ability to rationalize things that way any more, but just in case, I let him have this. I try and cut up everthing possible such as sandwiches, meat, vegetables, fruit, cookies, cake......you name it......I cut it up. He's fine with this and he seems much less confused. If anyone has ideas for good finger food, please let me know.....I'd appreciate some new ideas.
anitalynn I am so sorry for where you are. Think back to when toddlers first start needing finger food and think of the safety issues. No hot dogs cut in rounds because of the danger of choking. No peanuts or even slippery grapes. Some suggestions" cheese sticks, rolled deli meats, if you can stand the mess canned spaghettios, chunks of fruit, and this one I love-kabobs of meat andveggies or fruit on a pretzel stick skewer.
String beans, french fries that you bake instead of fry (just wrap the cut up potatoes in foil and bake at 350 for an hour - I chop up some onion on top for flavor before baking), zucchini strips with ranch dip, Ritz crackers with peanut butter.
I also fix sandwiches of smoked turkey breast that I have "shaved" so that it falls apart and a slice of cheese - and I quarter them. He loves corn dogs again too!
I buy the sausage wrapped in a pancake in the frozen food section - he loves them! Also Jimmy Dean's egg, bacon biscuits. All finger food for breakfast.
My husband has started trying to cut his bacon strips and using a fork instead of picking them up to eat them! I have no idea why.
Mary, It's strange that you mentioned your husband wanting to cut up his bacon, the last time we had bacon my husband tried to cut it also. I suggestion he eat it with his fingers, which he thought was a Great idea.
Mine was also having difficulty with utensils until i got some of the sturdier party type big plastic forks and spoons. these seem to be so light and he can direct his foods better -so far its working well. forks for stabbing:) and spoons for cereals oatmeal, etc. and i just throw out after a couple of washings. i find i am using them more myself-as for finger foods i use are: assorted cheese cubes and cheezit small crackers, cut up fruits, i use the jdean frozen coissants w/egg/sausage then cut in half too w/jelly in them -(he LOVES)- chicken tenders with ranch dressing and celerystix/carrotstix-dried pineapple/papaya chunks-gortons battered fish stix and tator tots/ meatloaf cubes and steak fries/ and LOTS of special K protein bars or any cereal bars from grocers in between- so far these work well- you can see we get very creative! divvi
Mary and Kadee, my husband wants to cut everything on his plate with a fork...bread, pizza, toast. It used to really bother (okay, it still kinda does). But then I remind myself, at least he is still able to use silverware.
Has your husband ever tried to eat soup with a fork? <grin> After two or three attempts, I handed him the spoon and said to try it and he gave me his fork. Then he put a straw in his coffee cup! <grin> We never know what he'll do....but we've learned to hide the sugar packets, salt and pepper shakers at the table when we go out to eat! He enjoys going out, so as long as he does, I'll take him. Like you said shoegirl, at least he is still able to use silverware!
I know I joke a lot, and look at the funny side of things, but it is my way of coping with what we are going through...and what he is suffering. He loves to laugh and I'm trying to keep the humor up for him. It isn't easy, but I'm giving it my best shot.
"There is only one real failure in life, and that is not to be true to the best that one knows." (That is from the guy that wrote a couple of the songs from "Grease")
Our best shot is all we can do and I'm sure yours is very good.