I really believe something must have happened in his head where it didn’t even occur to him to pick up the glass or spoon.
The reason she said that is sometimes he had to be nudged to do things he could do himself. But maybe she didn’t realize it just wasn’t clicking in his head.
Kind of like when we miss the obvious or we get too slow on the uptake to figure it out.
I agree. My sibling's meds caused swelling and extreme thirst... Nothing was allowed in the mouth for fear of choking, not even ice... She was caught using her toes trying to get ice. This was in ICU... She is lucky to be alive... Deemed competent to make her own decisions, but, could not comprehend that ultimately she would be placed in a nursing home... because she initially had no initiative to do physical therapy... and no insurance.
I am sure your mom is mentally and physically exhausted by the unknowns ahead and probably needs some care herself... It is easy for all of us to overlook the obvious...