Does your elderly loved one seem to be shrinking away right before your eyes? Maybe with each visit, your loved one seems like they’ve lost weight without trying. You’ve visited their doctor and have had them take all of the important tests, but still, they continue to lose weight. Their clothes fit too loosely, they have low energy, and they appear frail. You fear that their low weight may be depriving them of the ability to enjoy life at its fullest during this time of their life, and may even make them more susceptible to becoming ill or hurting themselves. Their home care providers can assist in overseeing their eating habits and work on improving their diets.
Common Causes of Weight Loss in Seniors
There can be several reasons why your elderly loved one is losing weight or having a hard time maintaining a healthy weight.
Medication side effects. Some medications can make a person nauseous, change the taste of food, or reduce the appetite.
Depression. If your loved one is feeling depressed, isolated, or hopeless, they might lose their appetite or not have the energy or desire to make food – especially food that is healthy and packed full of important nutrients.
Loss of taste and/or smell. As some people age, they lose their sense of taste, and the joy that used to come with eating is diminished, making it less desirable to eat as needed.
Loss of appetite. Many seniors are less hungry than they were when they were younger, especially if they aren’t able to be regularly active. Without feeling hunger pangs, they may not remember to eat as needed and may skip entire meals.
Inability to prepare food properly. Whether it’s due to diminished cognitive function or perhaps a physical limitation that prevents them from preparing food, they might not be able to make well-rounded meals as needed.
Four Healthy Food Options that are Nutrient Rich and Calorie Packed
Full-fat dairy. Add in plenty of dairy such as cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, milk, and cheeses. Many dairy products are also packed with protein, making them a great option.
Complex Carbohydrates. Think about changing their white bread and white rice to whole-grain bread and brown rice. Add in sides like quinoa, beans, farro, and potatoes.
Protein-rich meats and fish. Great options for main courses can be salmon, chicken breasts, and lean beef.
Hearty snacks. If your loved one is a snacker, up their snacking game with nuts, apples, and peanut butter, fruit smoothies, and hummus with whole-grain crackers.
Getting Help with Meals
If your loved one struggles to make the best food choices or feels overwhelmed with overhauling their daily diet, getting help from a home care provider can be just the support they need to make healthier food choices for themselves. A home care provider can assist them on their shopping excursions, making sure they purchase the best options for the goal of adding weight and increasing nutrition.
A home care provider can also help in the home by assisting with meal preparation. Preparing new and different foods can always be daunting for just about anyone, but especially seniors. Home care providers can walk them through how to prep, store, and serve these new foods that will help them not only stop losing weight, but also regain some of their strength and stamina so they can be active and enjoy life with renewed energy.