As some people age, they start to lose weight due to a diminished appetite. While losing a few pounds might be beneficial for some, for others, it can quickly lead to the person being underweight and suffering from health issues due to a reduced consumption of the needed nutrients to maintain good health. If your loved one has started to lose weight and it’s not due to any other health concerns, it might be time to check in and see what she’s eating.
Common Causes of Reduced Appetite in Seniors
There are two common reasons that the elderly often slow down their consumption of calories. The most prevalent reason is due to physiological changes. As a person ages, a lot of people need fewer calories during the day. Their metabolism slows down, and less energy is used, so fewer calories are needed. The digestive process also changes and slows down as a person ages, making a person feel full longer on less food. There isn’t a lot that can be done about either of these changes.
Physiological changes that may be able to addressed include fixing dental problems that make chewing difficult, addressing swallowing issues that make eating frightening, and increasing the flavor and spices of food to help compensate for a loss of taste and smell that happens as a person ages.
The next common reasons for a decreased appetite are considered psychological reasons. The depression and loneliness that come from eating alone each night can lead a person to not want to eat. Seniors who are experiencing cognitive decline might forget to eat or eat items that do not provide the health benefits that they need.
Four Tips for Making Every Meal Count
If your loved one’s doctor is concerned about her weight loss, you can help her take steps at home to increase her calorie consumption as well as make sure that the calories she does consume are the best for her.
Make Mealtime Fun
Whether it’s serving food in fun containers, having friends over to participate, or trying new foods for the adventurous eater, making mealtime more of an event as opposed to a chore can help your loved one want to eat more at each meal.
Decrease the Size of Meals but Increase Frequency
For some seniors, a large meal makes them feel uncomfortable. Your loved one might eat more if you offer 4-5 smaller meals during the day to help her digest and enjoy her food more easily.
Add More High-Calorie Foods
Simple changes like going from skim milk to whole milk can increase calories without increasing how much your loved one eats. While it’s not good to have too much fat or sugar added to her diet, look for easy ways to add some more calories to her meals without making her eat more food.
Focus on Food She Likes
Make sure every meal has something she loves, even if she’s had it for every meal. That way, you’ll know she’ll at least eat that part of her meal.
Getting Help with Meals
If your loved one lives alone, having a senior home care agency help with meal prep can be a great way to ensure she’s having meals that are packed full of what she needs. A senior home care provider can customize her shopping and meals based on the doctor’s recommendations. And if your senior likes to have company while eating, talk to your senior home care agency about having some visit her during mealtime to provide the company she craves.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Dallas, TX, please contact the caring staff at Arcy Healthcare today at (469) 293-1515
Providing In-Home Healthcare Services in North Texas, including Dallas, Hurst, Grapevine, Keller, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Gainesville, and more.
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, Arcy Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (Arcy Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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