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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
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V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Be happy her cravings aren’t for candy, cookies, cake, ice cream, chocolates, potatoes, rice, whole lobster, king crab legs, rib eye steak, caviar, champagne at every lunch and dinner. At least her cravings have lots of fiber, and healthy content! It could be a worse (and more expensive) set of cravings!
At 87, let her eat what she wants to eat. There is not much more damage to be done, especially not by some plant based food. Especially if she has early signs of dementia, she's already started to lose so much, let her have what she wants.
Oh my....if that is the only problem that you have with your "precious mom" who has dementia, please count your many blessings. Everything you have listed is very healthy for your mom, so please don't try and make an issue out of something that clearly isn't, but instead be grateful that your mom even in her dementia is choosing to eat healthy. And like others have said, at this point in your moms life she should be able to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants if she enjoys it.
Why is this a problem? The only thing that would make it a problem is if she has diarrhea or incontinence of bowel. Just let her enjoy the foods she likes. Whatever makes her happy at this point is a good thing.
I was thinking the same thing, all these foods are great for the body especially cubumbers. Plenty of water and very low in calories. Really, can't get too much.
It could be she associates those things with a period of her life (maybe childhood) when she was happier. Whatever it is, let her have as much as she wants. Halve the grapes.
Glue she drinking enough most people don’t drink enough water as a person ages it seems to cut d out en even further my initial thought was dehydration And vitamin C check her water consumption a little sipped through the day is better than trying to down a glassful -which will just run right thru you
My father would cough when he drank liquids. His doctor told us about Thick-it, a powder that you mix with any liquid. He stopped coughing. At least she likes healthy foods.
Those all contain a lot of water. Perhaps she isn't drinking enough. She might also like jello, which is another good way to get water. Does eat other foods to get enough protein?
If she has trouble swallowing liquids, try a thickening agent. I like the Nestle Resource Thicken Up. It is clear and tasteless. A lot of the thickeners you can buy in your drugstore, in giant containers, are simply cornstarch, and make the liquids chalky or pasty. My husband only drinks thickened protein shakes for his nutrition. I use vanilla Boost, milk, water, instant pudding mix, a thickener, and some fruit juice for flavor, usually strawberry or orange. He gets all the protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and liquid he needs in a day. If I have some, I will add some mashed sweet potato or banana.
Hello Shahin, I put your question in ChatGPT and below is the answer it provided:
Craving foods like cucumbers, lettuce, grapes, and pomegranate seeds for a long period usually is not automatically a sign of a medical problem, especially if your mother otherwise seems well. But in older adults, persistent cravings can sometimes reflect a few underlying factors worth paying attention to.
Here are the most common possibilities:
1. Hydration needs 💧
All the foods you mentioned have very high water content:
Cucumbers ~95% water Lettuce ~95% water Grapes ~80% water Pomegranate seeds are also very juicy
Older adults often experience reduced thirst signals, so their body may push them toward watery foods instead. This can be a natural way the body compensates.
2. Preference for lighter, refreshing foods: As people age, digestion and appetite can change. Some older adults begin preferring:
Fresh, crunchy foods Foods that feel light in the stomach Naturally sweet foods
These items also require very little cooking or chewing effort, which can make them more appealing.
3. Nutritional needs
Sometimes cravings align with nutrients the body wants more of. The foods you mentioned contain:
Potassium Vitamin C Fiber Antioxidants
For example, **Pomegranate seeds and **Grapes are rich in antioxidants, while **Cucumber and **Lettuce are easy sources of hydration and minerals.
4. Medication effects
Some medications can change: taste preferences, appetite, cravings for sweet or refreshing foods
5. When it could be worth checking:
It may be a good idea to mention it to her doctor if you notice any of these along with the cravings:
• Weight loss • Fatigue • Loss of appetite for most other foods • Excessive thirst or urination (possible **Diabetes) • Pale skin or weakness (possible **Iron Deficiency Anemia)
But craving fruits and vegetables is usually a positive sign, especially compared with cravings for sugar or processed foods.
✅ Simple things you can do:
Make sure she’s drinking enough fluids during the day Let her enjoy those foods—they’re healthy Offer balanced meals alongside them (protein + healthy fats)
One thing I’m curious about: Does she mostly add these foods to normal meals, or are they replacing other foods she used to eat?
That detail can help determine whether it’s simply a healthy preference or something worth looking into.
My mother with dementia only craved sweets and salty junk foods in her later years, which I had no problem providing her with. In advanced old age and with dementia at play, who cares WHAT they eat? If you get a smile from mom eating all these healthy foods, you're ahead of the game at this point.
Honestly these are all things that have high water content. I would let her have as much as she wants. Keep in mind there is not much nutritional value to lettuce. If she has a problem with diverticulitis the pomegranate seeds might be a problem but if she has been eating them for a year without a problem then let her have them. High in antioxidants. And if she ever has a problem with coughing or choking all these can be a problem if aspiration occurs. So never let her eat alone, at least be in the same room with her.
Is your mom eating other foods? If she's not, she might lose weight, which is not necessarily a good thing for a person at any age; and she might be developing nutritional deficiencies (vitamins, protein, minerals, fats).
My mother with vascular dementia craves sugar and salt. She doesn't get much salt at the memory care, but if I take her out, I don't argue with her about salt or sugar. She just had a McDonald's burger, fries and sundae. I mean, she has a terminal illness, and she's not enjoying her life as it stands right now, so I let her eat what she asks for without fighting. Cucumbers and lettuce and grapes are the kind of thing I crave when I'm dehydrated. And oranges.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Everything you have listed is very healthy for your mom, so please don't try and make an issue out of something that clearly isn't, but instead be grateful that your mom even in her dementia is choosing to eat healthy.
And like others have said, at this point in your moms life she should be able to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants if she enjoys it.
most people don’t drink enough water
as a person ages it seems to cut d out en even further
my initial thought was dehydration
And vitamin C
check her water consumption
a little sipped through the day is better than trying to down a glassful -which will just run right thru you
She might also like jello, which is another good way to get water.
Does eat other foods to get enough protein?
If she has trouble swallowing liquids, try a thickening agent. I like the Nestle Resource Thicken Up. It is clear and tasteless. A lot of the thickeners you can buy in your drugstore, in giant containers, are simply cornstarch, and make the liquids chalky or pasty.
My husband only drinks thickened protein shakes for his nutrition. I use vanilla Boost, milk, water, instant pudding mix, a thickener, and some fruit juice for flavor, usually strawberry or orange. He gets all the protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and liquid he needs in a day. If I have some, I will add some mashed sweet potato or banana.
I put your question in ChatGPT and below is the answer it provided:
Craving foods like cucumbers, lettuce, grapes, and pomegranate seeds for a long period usually is not automatically a sign of a medical problem, especially if your mother otherwise seems well. But in older adults, persistent cravings can sometimes reflect a few underlying factors worth paying attention to.
Here are the most common possibilities:
1. Hydration needs 💧
All the foods you mentioned have very high water content:
Cucumbers ~95% water
Lettuce ~95% water
Grapes ~80% water
Pomegranate seeds are also very juicy
Older adults often experience reduced thirst signals, so their body may push them toward watery foods instead. This can be a natural way the body compensates.
2. Preference for lighter, refreshing foods:
As people age, digestion and appetite can change. Some older adults begin preferring:
Fresh, crunchy foods
Foods that feel light in the stomach
Naturally sweet foods
These items also require very little cooking or chewing effort, which can make them more appealing.
3. Nutritional needs
Sometimes cravings align with nutrients the body wants more of. The foods you mentioned contain:
Potassium
Vitamin C
Fiber
Antioxidants
For example, **Pomegranate seeds and **Grapes are rich in antioxidants, while **Cucumber and **Lettuce are easy sources of hydration and minerals.
4. Medication effects
Some medications can change:
taste preferences, appetite, cravings for sweet or refreshing foods
5. When it could be worth checking:
It may be a good idea to mention it to her doctor if you notice any of these along with the cravings:
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite for most other foods
• Excessive thirst or urination (possible **Diabetes)
• Pale skin or weakness (possible **Iron Deficiency Anemia)
But craving fruits and vegetables is usually a positive sign, especially compared with cravings for sugar or processed foods.
✅ Simple things you can do:
Make sure she’s drinking enough fluids during the day
Let her enjoy those foods—they’re healthy
Offer balanced meals alongside them (protein + healthy fats)
One thing I’m curious about: Does she mostly add these foods to normal meals, or are they replacing other foods she used to eat?
That detail can help determine whether it’s simply a healthy preference or something worth looking into.
Keep in mind there is not much nutritional value to lettuce.
If she has a problem with diverticulitis the pomegranate seeds might be a problem but if she has been eating them for a year without a problem then let her have them. High in antioxidants.
And if she ever has a problem with coughing or choking all these can be a problem if aspiration occurs. So never let her eat alone, at least be in the same room with her.
Cucumbers and lettuce and grapes are the kind of thing I crave when I'm dehydrated. And oranges.