Combating Loss of Appetite in the Elderly

Loss of appetite in the elderly does not necessarily mean something is wrong. But when the loss of appetite begins to affect a senior’s health, it needs to be addressed. A lack of nutrition can have serious consequences for older adults. In fact, some experts believe it is more dangerous for a senior to be underweight than overweight.

There are many reasons seniors stop eating or lose interest in food, including:

• Slowing metabolism
• Lower activity levels
• Side effects from medications
• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Illness
• Salivary gland problems
• Dehydration
• Dental issues that make chewing difficult
• Problems swallowing
• Dry mouth from medications
• Thyroid disorders
• Aversion to food smells
• Loss of the sense of smell
• Reduction in the ability to taste
• Inability to shop for or prepare food
• Inability to feed oneself

Additionally, seniors with dementia may forget to eat, or believe they have just eaten when they have not.

To further complicate the issue, a study revealed that 18 percent of seniors who were overweight and 29 percent who were obese were also malnourished.

There are several health risks for malnourished seniors:

• Frailty
• More frequent falls
• Longer hospital stays
• Osteoporosis (bone loss)
• Osteomalacia (softening and deformation of bones)
• Hip fractures
• Muscle weakness and muscle loss
• Weakened immune system
• Impaired wound healing
• Mortality

What to Look For

Signs that a senior may have become malnourished include lethargy and unexplained weight loss or weight gain. Family members or caregivers should watch the senior during mealtimes to take note of eating habits and monitor their weight. Caregivers can also find out information about eating habits through activity sensors that provide information about how many times the refrigerator door has been opened or if the microwave has been used.

First Step to Combat Loss of Appetite in the Elderly: Talk to a Physician

Seniors should consult their physicians to assess medical conditions that may be contributing to a loss of appetite. During that consultation, the physician may also recommend a certain daily caloric intake, change medications that may be affecting their appetite, and discuss vitamins or supplements that may help.

A physician can also make nutritional recommendations based on chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure.

Tips to Encourage Healthy Eating

As a caregiver or adult child, you need to encourage your senior loved ones to eat well. Although seniors need to be aware of the dangers of malnutrition, you should also emphasize the added mental and physical energy and increased quality of life they will experience with proper nutrition.

Establish a regular eating schedule.

Our bodies are accustomed to certain rhythms, including when we feel hungry.

When dealing with a loss of appetite in the elderly, it helps to plan ahead for meals rather than grabbing whatever foods are available. This allows time for better food selection. It may also be beneficial to establish a pattern of consuming 6-8 smaller meals per day rather than three large ones. Therefore, it is advisable to encourage your loved one to eat meals and snacks at the same time each day whenever possible. It’s always a good idea to ask your loved one’s doctor about consuming three large meals versus 6-8 smaller ones, if you’re unsure.

Overcome challenges.

If obtaining or preparing food is difficult, consider signing your loved one up for a grocery or meal delivery service. Make sure the senior’s dentures fit properly and that poor dental health is not making it difficult to chew. If needed, consider providing adaptive eating utensils (i.e., specialized utensils that make eating easier for seniors with physical or developmental disabilities) to enable them to feed themselves more easily.

Make the eating environment pleasant.

Begin by making meal preparation fun for the senior. Ask them to select menu items and help prepare the meal. Use favorite place settings and add background music.

Also, encourage social interaction during mealtime. Eating alone in silence can be depressing and foster a lack of appetite, so invite friends over. Family members and caregivers should also schedule meals with senior parents. Food tastes better with good company and a pleasant atmosphere!

Keep healthy snacks on hand.

Find things to eat that appeal to the senior. Keeping their favorite healthy snacks readily accessible makes it far more likely that they will be eaten.

Add sweet fruit to desserts and spices, sauces, and herbs to other foods for more flavor.

Some medications change the flavor of foods. If meat starts tasting different, for example, consider a switch to other proteins like beans. Look for enhancements or substitutes that will make foods more appetizing.

As a caregiver or adult child, you can make trying new foods a fun process of discovery for your loved one.

Increase nutrient value instead of just food quantity.

A huge helping of food in front of an appetite-suppressed senior may look more like a hurdle than an inviting dining experience. Try less intimidating, smaller portions of healthy, nutrient-rich food. Malnutrition is a condition caused by not getting the right amount of nutrients required for health.

Provide incentives.

Family members might consider offering a reward to their senior loved one in return for eating well. Take them on a shopping trip, buy them a gift card, or treat them to a good meal!

Encourage exercise.

As we age, we lose lean muscle mass. This condition is called sarcopenia. Exercise—particularly strengthening exercise—can slow the loss of lean muscle. This not only protects seniors from injuries and enhances their physical capabilities, but also serves to increase their appetite. Losing weight without gaining or maintaining muscle can be disabling in terms of energy and mobility loss, and can also pose an increased risk for injury.

Always consult with a physician before starting an exercise program.

Deal with dry mouth.

Senior can do a mouth rinse or chew sugarless gum before a meal to moisten the palate.

Overcome swallowing difficulties.

Smoothies, soups, and nutritional drinks can help those who have trouble chewing or swallowing solid foods. Also, a speech therapist can help with swallowing challenges.

Talk to a registered dietitian for more ideas and suggestions.

As we age, our dietary choices and requirements change. A registered dietitian can be a great resource for seniors, creating customized meal plans based on food preferences and medical conditions.

Nutrition is key to seniors’ health. See more tips on our blog.

This blog was originally written on May 25th, 2021 and has been updated since.