Has your senior loved one stopped eating and seems to be consistently losing weight? If you’ve had them visit her doctor and found that there isn’t any other serious health issue, it might be because they have greatly reduced their food intake and aren’t consuming enough calories each day to sustain her and keep her weight at a healthy level. Companion care at home services help your loved ones get the calories they need each day.
Why Seniors Stop Eating
There can be a lot of reasons why your elderly loved one seems to have lost their appetite. Finding the root cause is key to helping them reestablish a healthy diet that provides the nutrients and calories she needs.
Some reasons seniors stop eating can include:
- Depression and loneliness. If your elderly loved one lives alone, they might not feel the urge to make a meal for themselves and then sit alone at the table eating it.
- They’re dehydrated. It could be as simple as your loved one isn’t drinking enough fluids during the day to spark those hunger pangs.
- They could be having issues with chewing or swallowing, making eating difficult and frightening.
- They’ve become too sedentary. Not moving and being active during the day can shut down the appetite.
- Their cognitive decline has made them unable to put together a meal, or it has created a sense of unease or fear when trying to use appliances and sharp items like knives.
- Physical issues can also make using the kitchen difficult and dangerous. Vertigo might cause a bad fall, and arthritis might make it too hard to hold a pair of scissors or a knife properly.
How to Help Your Senior Not Only Eat More, But Eat Better
It’s natural for many older individuals to have a decline in their appetite, so while you may not be able to expect your elderly loved one to eat the same amount of food you do each day, you can help her eat regularly and make sure that what she does eat is nutrient-rich and feeds her body in the best possible manner.
- Try to eliminate empty calories. If your loved one isn’t eating a lot, it’s important that what they are eating is providing their body with the nutrients it needs. Candy and chips might be tasty, but they provide practically no nutrients, so encourage more nutrient-rich snacks like cheese, fruit, and nuts.
- Make meals smaller. Big meals may leave a lot of uneaten food on the plate because it’s too much at one time. So, instead, offer multiple smaller meals throughout the day that are more easily digested and enjoyed.
- Serve foods that don’t present choking hazards. If chewing or swallowing is an issue, serve softer foods like scrambled eggs or protein-enriched smoothies.
- Provide companionship. Eating with someone often helps a person to eat more. If you can’t be there for each meal, a companion care at home provider can fill that gap. Companion care at home providers can not only join your loved one for a meal, but can also help prepare it as well. Your elderly loved one might find they are enjoying meals again now that they have someone providing companion care at home.
Helping your loved one get the calories they need will help them stay healthy and be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Companion care at home can be a valuable resource if you or your loved one needs more help.
If you or someone you know needs Companion Care at Home in Hutchinson, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.