02/07/2024
WAY TO ENCOURAGE GRANDPA AND GRANDMA TO EAT
Growing up, your mom and dad always encouraged you to eat well. Now, however, your parents are getting older — and you’re starting to notice that they barely eat anything but toast or cereal themselves.
If this story sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone! Many seniors lose their appetites as they age, for a host of reasons — and this appetite loss is a common source of concern for loving family caregivers.
While some loss of appetite is to be expected as a normal part of aging, it can be worrying when you start to notice that your elderly loved one is losing weight, letting food spoil in the fridge, or even refusing to eat altogether. Let’s explore some common reasons why the senior in your life may be putting off food, and what you can do to help:
Causes of Appetite Loss In the Elderly
In an interview with NBC, one Indiana dietitian who serves the elderly estimated that “half of new admissions to long-term-care facilities are malnourished.” Research also suggests that about 20 percent of seniors who live alone display at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health.
As we get older, some appetite loss is entirely normal. Our metabolism naturally slows as we age, and most of us tend to become less physically active, meaning that we require fewer calories overall. Similarly, changes to the senses of taste and smell can cause many older adults to experience food differently, leading to a slightly lessened appetite.
With that said, however, severe and intense loss of appetite can be a cause for concern in its own right — and, in some cases, an early warning sign of more serious health problems. Over time, eating less may cause seniors to lose a significant amount of weight or become malnourished. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to a whole host of health problems.
Meanwhile, for some seniors, an ongoing refusal to eat could stem from an underlying health condition. Some older adults give up on eating because they are having dental problems, ranging from ill-fitting dentures to dry mouth. Others may give up on cooking and serving themselves because of limited mobility, or changes to their sense of sight. In other cases, a lack of appetite could be a serious side effect stemming from one or more medications, or a symptom of a serious health condition, such as a gastrointestinal disorder, infection, depression, or a thyroid problem. Finally, if your loved one is forgetting to eat, or experiencing confusion or mood swings at mealtimes, this could be a sign that they are experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
professional senior companion can make mealtimes easier — including serving up finger foods that don’t require utensils, cutting up fruits and meats into bite-sized pieces, getting rid of excessive table clutter and distractions, or serving soft foods, such as smoothies and stews.
Make Mealtimes a Social Event
For cultures across the globe, sharing food is an incredibly important part of daily life. Studies have shown that in addition to boosting quality of life and happiness, regularly sharing meals with others can actually promote healthier eating habits among seniors. In fact, research suggests that seniors take longer to dine and make more nutritious choices when dining with companions, as opposed to eating alone. 85 percent of seniors also say that having someone to share their meals makes dining more satisfying. If you cannot always be there to share a meal with your older loved ones, a senior companion may be able to step in and help! With a senior companion, you can trust that your loved one will be able to split a meal and share great conversation with a reliable friend.
Looking for Help? Joyful Time Home Care Services Staff
As a loving family caregiver to an elderly adult, taking the steps necessary to help your aging loved one can be tricky — especially when you need to balance your caregiving responsibilities with having to cook, clean, and provide for yourself and your family.
That’ s where Joyful Time
Home Care Services would love to help! , At Joyful Time Home Care Services our mission is to empower seniors to maintain a higher quality of life, while also providing respite and relief for family caregivers who may need some assistance.
We’ll help develop a personalized care plan that allows your loved one to live independently in the comfort of their own home, with the companionship they need to remain active and engaged — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Our companions understand the enormous impact that food and mealtimes can have on a senior’s overall health, and we make dining a true point of emphasis when it comes to the care we provide. We can help with everything that goes into creating nutritious, fulfilling meals — from assisting with grocery shopping, to leading meal prep, to simply helping your loved one enjoy their time with a friendly, familiar face.
We don’t look at cooking for our clients as a chore, but a privilege — an amazing opportunity to connect and learn more about their lifetime’s worth of stories. If you have a loved one that could benefit from regular home-cooked meals and company, we’d be more than happy to help,
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Email address joyfultimehomecareservice@gmail.com
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