Chronic undernutrition among the elderly is a serious issue in our society. It can lead to a variety of medical problems and increased dependence on caregivers.
In order to understand how to increase appetite in the elderly, we need to first understand the basics of appetite and the causes of appetite loss in the elderly.
The Basic Concept
Appetite is the urge for food; it’s stimulated by certain hormones and sensory signals from the stomach and intestines that tell us when we are hungry or full, as well as supplementing these signals with external cues such as sight smell, taste, and texture. This means that if someone doesn’t feel like eating something, they won’t eat it. However, as the person ages, their ability to feel hunger starts to diminish. Not only that, but the elderly often have problems with their sense of taste and smell, which makes it even tougher for them to tell when they are hungry and when they are not.
When your loved one loses appetite, it may be hard to eat enough to keep their body functioning properly. As a caregiver, you need to understand what causes appetite loss in your elderly so that you can find ways to help them regain their appetite and, therefore, have better health and save you a lot of time.
Causes of Appetite Loss in the Elderly
There are a lot of reasons why seniors might not be feeling hungry. However, there are instances when appetite loss is a sign of a more serious condition. When seniors say they never feel hungry, show no desire to eat, or are exhibiting unintentional weight loss, there may be an underlying medical reason. It is especially true if senior is often fatigued along with having no appetite.
Medical reasons that may be causing appetite loss in your elderly loved one include:
- Thyroid disorders
- Chronic liver disease
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancers (Ovarian, Pancreatic, Lung, and Stomach Cancers)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
If you notice that a senior loved one has decreased appetite and a change in overall eating habits, you may want to seek medical evaluation by your doctor. It will help get a detailed account of what causes your loved one to lose appetite.
7 Other Reasons For Loss of Appetite in Older Adults
If any of the above-mentioned medical reasons do not cause loss of appetite in seniors, it could be a result of one or more of the following reasons.
1. Depression
Depression affects many seniors as they age. Stress can also be a cause of appetite loss in the elderly. Depression and stress are hard enough for adults to handle, let alone seniors who have less energy to handle such conditions. So if your loved one is feeling hopeless or sad, he may not be feeling hungry either.
2. Lack of physical exercise
Seniors are more likely to have problems with mobility and are often less active than younger adults. Their energy level, as well as their metabolism, slows down with age. This can cause slow metabolism and lack of appetite, especially when physical activity and exercise are minimal or non-existent.
3. Dehydration
The more dehydrated the older adult is, the less likely they want food. This can happen when a senior is experiencing an illness and is not drinking enough fluids. Dehydration not only creates thirst, but it can cause dehydration of vital organs such as the brain and heart.
4. Inability to prepare meals
Your loved ones may not be eating enough because they can’t or don’t want to prepare their food or are no longer as independent as they used to be.
5. Difficulty chewing or eating independently
The decline in the muscles and joints of their mouth can cause seniors to have problems with chewing, eating, and swallowing.
Other reasons why eating can be difficult include:
- Dental problems
- Wear and tear on the body (normal aging)
- Medical treatments like surgery
- Medications
- Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and stroke
6. Loss of Taste
As we age, our ability to taste food diminishes. This causes seniors to lose their appetite and thus miss out on the available flavors, such as the intense flavors of an Italian meal or a spicy dish.
7. Failure to establish routines
As people get older, they often develop routines that they follow on a daily basis. For some, this may be something such as eating breakfast at the same time every day. If this routine is not followed, it can cause someone to lose their appetite.
How To Increase Appetite In the Elderly?
Now, if loss of appetite is not caused by serious health conditions and is the result of one or more of the reasons mentioned above, there are a variety of tricks you can use to help your loved one increase their appetite.
1. Eat Regularly
The easiest way to increase your loved one’s appetite is by eating regularly. This can include setting times for eating meals and snacks as well as making sure that the food you are preparing is tasty and nutritious.
2. Serve Smaller Portions
If your senior loved one is not eating because they are no longer as hungry as they used to be or because the serving size you are preparing is too large, serving smaller portions might help. This allows the person to have smaller meals that can fit their appetite. You can try switching to a routine where your senior loved one eats five small meals instead of 3 big ones.
You can help them increase their appetite by offering tasty and nutritious foods. This can include serving them meals with interesting and complex flavors, as well as offering a variety of foods that they like. Here are some nutritious and tasty foods that are easy to get your loved one to eat:
- Avocado Toast with Egg
- Salmon Burrito
- Banana Pancakes
- Turkey Omelet with Rice
- Stovetop or Air-Popped Popcorn
3. Involve Them in the Kitchen
If your senior parent is not eating because they find it too hard to cook for themselves or prefer someone else to do it for them, you can involve them in the preparation of their meals. It will allow them to have more control over their meals so that they feel more motivated to eat. You can let them assist in food preparation as well if it is within their ability level.
4. Refrain From Using Utensils
If an older adult is not eating because they find it hard to use utensils or are struggling with chewing, you can let them eat with their hands instead. It is especially true when you provide foods like mashed potatoes or other foods that don’t require utensils.
Here are some foods that your loved one can eat without using utensils:
- Meatballs
- Fish sticks
- Chicken strips or nuggets
- Healthy Pizza
5. Provide Your Senior Parent Plenty Of Easy-To-Eat Snacks
Some seniors may prefer to eat small amounts of food throughout the day rather than a big meal at lunchtime or dinner. Having snacks on hand can help get them to eat more during the day. Try to keep portion sizes as small as possible by serving small snacks whenever they want one.
Here are some suggestions
- Diced fruit, fresh or packaged
- Whole chocolate milk
- Crackers and Peanut butter
- Cheese sticks
- Full-fat yogurt
6. Consider Having A Professional Help You
If your loved one is not eating due to an underlying health condition or medical issue, you may want to seek advice from a doctor or nutritionist. They will be able to help you create a meal plan that can help your loved one to get back on track and eat more regularly.
The Takeaway
As your loved one gets older, many things change in their lives. Some become more forgetful; some develop health problems that can cause them to miss meals or fail to eat properly, and some old age-related changes can cause your senior loved ones’ appetite to decrease.
Many people don’t realize that there are many ways you can help your loved one eat again and get their appetite back on track. Learning why your senior loved one is not eating, working with a professional nutritionist, finding tasty, nutritious foods, and putting their appetite at ease are all ways you can make their life easier once again.
However, not all the time, you’re available to help your loved one eat. You might not be able to always provide them with healthy, nutritious meals on the go or cook for them when they are home due to your busy schedule. If this is the case for you, It is very important that you get a reliable caregiver to make sure that your loved one gets what they need when they need it.
Wellness Home Care is the best way to find the right caregiver for your loved one. It is a home care agency that provides care that is personal and tailored to your loved one’s needs. We know how difficult it can be to find the right personal care assistant or companion, and we are here to help you. Please contact us today at (860) 667-2273.
