10 Tips on Helping a Senior With Loss of Appetite

It is not unusual for seniors to lose their appetite, because as we age, we naturally burn fewer calories, so, we require less food. More often, the main factors for appetite loss could be loneliness or side effects of different medications.

It is of greater concern if an elderly person begins to have a serious lack of energy or experience medical issues like dental difficulties due to poor nutrition.

According to Ephraim Zagelbaum, the CEO of Personal Healthcare, sometimes the cause can be a more serious medical reason.

He gives a few tips on how to help a senior, experiencing an appetite loss:

1. Have a Set Meal Time

Setting a meal time can help the senior regain interest in eating. If he knows that he is having dinner at 6:30 every night, he may be more accepting of a meal. Zagelbaum advises letting them choose the times and the place on the meal.

2. Quality not Quantity of Food

In Zagelbaum’s opinion, eating smaller amounts of foods that are high in nutrients is more beneficial than eating a large number of foods that are not so nutrient rich.

Choosing a few florets of broccoli over several pieces of bread can provide a lot of benefits.

3. Eat with Them

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, loneliness is one of the most common causes of appetite loss. Great advice from Zagelbaum is taking the time to sit and eat with them and make it an enjoyable experience. When they are enjoying, they will eat more.

4. Include in Meal Prep

Sometimes, seniors dislike the idea of being dependent on other people. Asking them to take part in the meal preparation should be a great idea. Also, you could learn something from them.

5. Increase Exercise

Increased physical activity leads to more calories burning. Due to this, the body wants more food. Zagelbaum, who is a member of Educause and has done a number of researches, suggests, finding an activity that they may be willing to do regularly, on a daily basis, such as small walks, chair exercises or community senior exercises.

6. Small meals

Seniors may be overwhelmed by large meals, so the best is trying to keep things small. If they finish it, increase the portions for the next meal, but make sure not to “waste” the food. Getting upset by food being discarded is common for many seniors.

7. Don’t introduce Too Many New Foods

The best practice is sticking with the foods that they have been eating regularly, because

Taste receptors change with age. If the senior has never liked or tried Thai food, the probability that he will like it is equal to zero.

8. Use Supplement Drinks and Vitamins

It is normal that we just do not want to eat. Drinking a meal replacement or taking vitamins can be helpful in keeping up strength and nutrition.

9. Soft Easy Chew Foods

Eating might be painful for a senior with dental, mouth, or swallowing issues. A recommendation from Zagelbaum for great elderly care is finding foods that require less effort to eat and have low acid levels.

10. Look for a Medical Reason

If nothing is working and you have tried everything, consult a doctor.

“There might be an underlying medical condition of concern. A doctor may have further insight into why this is happening,” says Ephraim Zagelbaum, "Sometimes having an Alzheimer's disease can be the reason".

We hope that these tips by the healthcare professional, Ephraim Zagelbaum will help you if you are struggling to help a senior that has lost interest in eating.