He feels very sleepy 2 hrs after eating. He seems to be in a downward spiral where he has no energy, yet doesn't feel very hungry. Therefore he doesn't eat much, which doesn't give him fuel....(I tried explaining this to him). He says he feels better after he eats, but then after about 2 hours he suddenly feels very sleepy again. He keeps loosing weight and muscle mass. His balance is getting worse, so he hunches over when he walks (sometimes with a walker) so he won't fall backwards. Generally speaking, this is a man who was very physically active until about age 75. He's had 2 hip replacements, recovered okay from them. My mother passed away almost 5 years ago. The first 2 years he seemed physically okay, the 3 year he slowed down a little and moved to an independent living facility. Year 3 even more so and now on year 5 he seems to be rapidly declining. He says he shouldn't be this way and has sent me the task to "look up on the computer" what is wrong with him.
My only advice is keep his mind stimulated..what about a new hobby like skydiving
that will get his eyes and his mind open
When he goes to see an md, are you there and getting details firsthand?
One issue with my mom was that she had 5 different MDs, all giving out Rx's & dealing with specific & increasing complaints. She wasnt actively listening to any of them either. She tore rotor cuff so saw Otho surgeon. He required because of age (almost 90) to be cleared by gerontology dept at health science center where he was on staff.. Not her internist or old family medicine doc but gerontology dept. Totally different approach starting with cognition tests, then a stopping or weaning off of her various Rx's, cardiology work up, etc. everything done by gerontology md or specialists within dept. all reporting centralized. Mom stayed seeing them after surgery about every 6 mos with cognition testing each visit. She was diagnosed with lewy body dementia. It was good to know as lewy has a somewhat different dementia decline in the first stages. There was no way her old docs would have been able to evaluate her, their approach was to prescribe something to cure which is what most medical school & residency training is all about. For elderly with dementia "cure" isn't going to happen, it more about long term management of a chronic and terminal disease.
If you can find a gerontology program, try to get dad an appointment for a full work up and be there taking notes.
youtube/watch?v=m7zCDiiTBTk