Have you noticed that each time you go and visit your elderly loved one, he seems to have lost a little more weight? Maybe you’ve been looking through old photos with him, and you can see a big difference in how he looked a year ago compared to how he looks today. You’ve helped him attend all of his doctor’s appointments, and he doesn’t have any serious medical conditions, so what is causing this weight loss? You might be surprised by some of the reasons elderly individuals lose a lot of weight as they age.
Four Non-Disease-Related Causes for Weight Loss in Your Elderly Loved One
Many people associate weight loss with a serious medical condition such as cancer, kidney disease, or diabetes. If your loved one is experiencing unplanned weight loss, a doctor should always examine him to determine if he has a condition that can be treated medically. If medical conditions are ruled out, then his weight loss may be caused by other factors.
- Lack of interest in eating. There are plenty of reasons why some elderly people suddenly stop wanting to eat. There could be physical reasons that make it painful to eat, such as mouth problems or digestive issues. They might also lose interest in eating when they don’t have anyone to eat with. This often happens to widows and widowers who lose a spouse and just can’t bear to eat alone.
- Lack of appetite. Metabolism often slows down as a person ages, as well as the parts of the body that indicate hunger and thirst seem to lessen in strength, making it easier to ignore feelings of hunger or thirst. If your loved one isn’t very active, that can also cause a decrease in appetite.
- Lack of knowledge on what to eat. Maybe your loved one is still eating, but he isn’t eating foods that help his body maintain its healthy weight. Just like some people may inadvertently choose foods that cause them to gain weight, your loved one may be subsisting only on foods that are extremely low in calories or lacking important nutrition.
- Inability to prepare healthy foods. If food prep is just too overwhelming for your loved one, he might give up on it completely and avoid preparing meals that are nutrient-rich and calorie-dense.
Better Nutrition with 24-Hour Home Care
While you might be able to help with your elderly loved one’s meals once a week or even once a day, your loved one might need help with preparing and enjoying three meals a day to help him gain back the weight he has lost and regain his health. A 24-hour home care team can help by having someone there at every mealtime to help him prepare healthy and delicious meals as well as provide company while he eats, gently encouraging him to consume a healthy amount of calories at each meal. A 24-hour home care team can help your loved one learn new techniques for creating meals he enjoys, as well as assist him in discovering new and delicious foods to support a healthy weight. With their guidance and support, your loved one will be back to his healthy weight in no time.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Brookfield, CT, please contact the caring staff at Elderly Caregivers LLC. today at (203) 628-7438
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