Family caregivers may notice that their older loved one appears to be losing weight or eating less as they age. Loss of appetite can become more common with age, but it can also become a major issue. As a family caregiver, you need to make sure that your loved one is getting all of the vitamins, nutrients, and calories they need to stay healthy.
Common Causes of Appetite Loss in Elders
Several factors can contribute to a loss of appetite in older adults. Some may affect feelings of hunger, while others make it more difficult to access food.
Medication Side Effects
Your loved one’s medications could be affecting their appetite. Check the side effects of your loved one’s medications, and talk to their doctor if you have more concerns.
Difficulty Cooking
Deteriorating dexterity, mobility, vision, and cognitive function can create problems with your loved one’s ability to cook. This can make it harder for them to make themselves a proper meal.
Mobility and Access to Groceries
In addition to limiting cooking, mobility can also impact your loved one’s access to food. Mobility issues with walking or driving can limit your loved one’s ability to get to the grocery store. Additionally, they may not be able to carry as many bags into their home.
Additional Causes of Appetite Loss in Older Adults
There may be other reasons your loved one is eating less. These issues may not be as common as those above. However, they can often be more serious.
Dental Issues Affecting Food Consumption
Dentures or decaying teeth can deter your loved one from eating. Poor dental care can make eating certain foods uncomfortable or difficult. This can deter your loved one from eating. Regular dentist appointments can help improve dental comfort.
Illness and Appetite Loss
If your loved one is sick, they might not feel hungry. If this persists for several days, it can become a serious problem. Not eating while sick can even exacerbate symptoms and leave them too weak for their immune system to fight back. If needed, seek out medical care for your loved one if an illness persists.
Appetite and Mental Health Concerns
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions can affect appetite. Sadness and isolation can cause your loved one to lose energy. They might not feel motivated to eat anything because of their depression. Improving your loved one’s overall mental health and mood can help with this.
Encouraging Eating and Boosting Appetite
There are several ways that you can try to help boost your loved one’s appetite. Understanding how to create healthy meals can make it easier for your loved one to get the most out of their food when they do eat.
Use More Herbs and Spices
Flavor can go a long way in improving appetite. As you age, your taste receptors can dull. Enhancing food with herbs and spices can help encourage eating. Just keep in mind that over-salting could have adverse health effects for your loved one. Instead, look for other spices in the cabinet to bring more flavor.
To make it easier for your loved one, try some different spice blends to find some that they like. There are plenty of no-salt and low-salt seasoning blends on the market.
Scheduling Eating
Sticking to a meal schedule can help keep your loved one eating regularly. Develop a habit of having meals at the same time each day to encourage them to eat. Regulating a meal schedule can also be important for medications that should be taken with meals.
Cooking More Nutrient-Dense Foods
Because their appetite has diminished, it is important to pack more nutrition into each meal. Focus on creating meals with healthy, nutrient-rich ingredients. Even if they only eat a little, they are still getting more out of it. Beans and nuts, for example, are a great way to access protein, healthy fats, and other key nutrients more easily.
Cooking Together
While your loved one might not be able to cook for themselves, they could assist you in the kitchen. Having your loved one assist you in the kitchen can help encourage eating. Even doing this once in a while can be fun for them. Cooking as a family can also be a great way to pass on family recipes to younger generations.
Managing Eating with Help at Home
Hiring a home health aide to care for your elder loved one can be a good way to improve their overall health and encourage them to eat. Our home health aides can assist your aging parent in grocery shopping, meal preparation, medication scheduling, and more.
Safe Harbor Healthcare Services does not provide medical, healthcare, or financial advice via articles. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for advice.
Safe Harbor Healthcare Services has provided excellent home care on Staten Island since 1967. Our services help older and disabled individuals live safely and independently while giving their families the peace of mind they need. For more information, contact us or call (718)-979-6900.
