I wonder if she was an avid gum chewer, or similar habit, before dementia. but unsuccessfully at this point It has to be comforting to her of filling a need that she has. I am trying to put myself in your cousin's mind frame and figure out what pleasure she is receiving from this activity.
Glad you decided to post.Īs you, I have years of experience and this is new for me!! I do know that they typically will put items in their mouth as a child will, and there is one in mom's unit that will occasionally chew on clothing, but it is not something that happens on a regular basis. It is great to have you and all your experience here. I have asked for it to be addressed by her doctor.Ĭan our digestive systems can handle cotton.? The nursing home has no comment about that. I prefer her to be on as little psych meds as possible anyway.ĭoes anyone have experience with this fabric-chewing habit? I am still concerned about the health effects of her swallowing this fabric on a daily basis. They asked her psychiatrist about adjusting her meds, which he did - but after 6 weeks has not made any difference. The thinking was that she would chew the bandanas instead of destroying her shirts - and the nursing home would accept them as scarves, not bibs. Trying to figure out what to do, I ordered XL cotton bandanas, folded them into triangles and attached velcro squares to the ends, so they could be placed around her neck like a scarf. She was chewing her shirts almost to the point of 'exposing' her chest. I noted that it seemed much less diginified for her to be going around in public at the nursing home with big chunks chewed out of the front of her shirts. They refused - said it was a 'dignity issue' and they could not put a bib on her. I asked them to try placing something on her chest like a cloth napkin or bib to keep her from chewing her clothing. I have been back and forth with the nursing home staff about this because, while it may just be a 'part of the disease', my cousin is also apparently swallowing the fabric she is chewing on. She pulls her shirt or blanket up to her face and contentedly chews away at it, off and on all day, every day.
Recently she has developed a habit of chewing on her clothing and blankets. My elderly cousin is in nearby nursing home with advanced MS and dementia. Lots of experience with all sorts of aspects of the disease, but this is a new one.
Have been caregiver and health surrogate for 3 elderly family members with Alz/Dementia over the past dozen or so years.
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