Old age comes with a number of changes to the body. This can include changes in skin elasticity, graying hair, wrinkles, loss of memory, vision, hearing, and various bladder and bowel issues. However, a change that is not always mentioned, yet often comes with old age is loss of appetite. Of course, not every elderly man or woman lose their appetite, but a good number do. This can leave caretakers – in most cases their children – wondering what to do with them. Begging seniors to eat doesn’t work and since scolding your own parent seems rude and childish, you are left exasperated and hoping they will finally become hungry enough that they are forced to eat. But one must understand that the problem here is not about your parent’s hunger but their urge to eat.
Appetite changes are a normal part of aging, but can sometimes be a sign of underlying health issues.
The reasons for a change in appetite:
In order to know what to do in the event that your senior parent is being stubborn and refusing to eat because they “don’t feel like it,” you need to understand the reason behind their attitude. Changes in their sense of smell and taste could be affecting their dietary routine. If their favorite foods do not taste as good as they used to, why bother eating? Seniors who suffer from loneliness can experience dietary irregularities. Seniors are often left alone for long periods of time and can no longer go to work or participate in their regular hobbies and pastimes. This can lead to depression, which only makes the situation worse.
Other changes that come with old age could be affecting their dietary habits, such as dental problems, which can cause teeth to fall out or become weak and can make chewing very difficult or uncomfortable, which lowers the urge to eat. Constipation due to gastrointestinal changes could also be affecting the dietary habit of your senior parent. According to American Senior Communities, seniors often need fewer calories because they participate in less physical activity than younger people do, which can explain their lowered urge to eat.
What to look for:
The normal aging process often include changes in dietary habits. When considering dietary changes in seniors it is important to monitor for serious diseases, such as salivary gland dysfunction, head cancers, thyroid disorders, periodontal disease, throat infections or Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Unaccounted for changes in dietary health that come with sudden weight gain, weight loss, or common malaise should be checked out by a physician to rule out the possibility of an underlying illness.
Now that you know what could be causing your parent’s change in appetite, it is time to look at the things you can do as their caretaker to stimulate their appetite, and ensure they are getting enough nutrients into their aging body. Once you rule out that the cause of appetite loss is an illness, you should:
Healthy fats can be found in many different foods.
1) Increase the nutrient density of food you are serving:
A huge serving of food piled on the plate of an elderly person who is already having dietary problems can be very intimidating. Instead of larger helpings, give them a small amount of food with extra calories. Some foods that are high in calories are olive oil, peanut butter, avocado, and certain creams. You could also encourage taking second helpings.
2) Set a regular eating schedule:
Our bodies tend to thrive on regularity and the same applies to our hunger and thirst signals. A regulated dietary pattern can help get the hunger signal ticking and encourage a positive upswing in calorie intake.
3) Make mealtime, a social time:
Socialization sparks the desire to eat. Remember, loneliness makes eating a chore. When seniors have regularly scheduled group mealtimes, positive eating habits are established and encouraged.
Getting creative with mealtime can make eating more enjoyable.
4) Be creative:
The elderly can be a set in their way of thinking. Introducing new foods and flavors to stimulate their taste buds can have a great impact on their appetite. Always look add flavor to their otherwise bland mealtime routine.
If these methods are not working, and the appetite or weight of your loved one continues to dwindle, do not hesitate to seek professional health.
