
Figuring out what’s keeping your elderly family member from eating “right” may not be a simple task but it’s a riddle that you need to solve. Nutrition is the building block for your senior’s health, so helping her eat what she needs to be eating is crucial.
She’s Got Physical Barriers to Eating
Eating is a very physical activity and if your elderly family member has bad teeth or trouble swallowing, then eating may not be pleasant or even possible for her with some foods. Talk to your senior about what issues she’s experiencing so that you can help her to find a solution. It’s possible that changing the format of some of her foods makes a difference.
It’s Lonely to Eat Alone
Some people can eat alone and be perfectly fine, but others don’t have that same ability. If your elderly family member has always been able to eat with a spouse or with other people she cares about, but now is alone, mealtimes may be more difficult than you realize. Finding ways to spend mealtimes with her can help immensely.
Her Body Hurts After She Eats
With some health issues, a person’s digestive system and even other parts of the body may hurt or feel bad after she eats. Depending on the severity of the symptoms she experiences, that might be enough to keep your elderly family member from wanting to eat. This is something that her doctor needs to know about in order to determine what the underlying problem is.
She’s Unable or Unwilling to Cook
Cooking is something that a lot of people enjoy, but amazingly enough not everyone does like it. If your senior isn’t excited about cooking, she may avoid it altogether. One solution might be to have elder care providers do the cooking for her. Then she doesn’t have to worry about it and you’re confident that she’s getting the nutrients that she needs.
Her Health Is Declining
When your elderly family member’s health isn’t doing as well as it was, she may not be hungry at all. Sometimes medications help with the health issues, but they also affect her appetite. It might be necessary for your senior to approach eating in a different way.
Make it a point to talk to your senior’s doctor about her nutritional needs. Her doctor can give you a plan for helping her to get the nutrients that she needs for this stage of her life and for the health issues she’s facing.
If you or an aging parent are considering elder care in West Chester, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.