Worrying about our elderly parents is something all of us do. One of the main things we worry about is whether our elderly parents are eating enough or not.
If you don’t think your aging parents are eating enough, it can be helpful to first figure out the reason why they aren’t eating as much as they should be. There are many reasons why seniors don’t eat enough. When it comes to elder care, eating healthily and enough is very important.

Sense Reduction

There are many senses involved when it comes to eating. Smelling is one of the senses that may be affecting your parent’s ability to eat properly. They may perceive the food in a different way when their senses are messed up. As a family caregiver, you can alter the recipe to make it more or less flavorful. This way your parents are more likely to eat it.

Vision Issues

Many seniors experience vision issues. This can alter their perception while trying to eat. If they can’t properly see what is being served to them or what they have in their cupboards or refrigerator, they may not have an interest in eating at all. If you notice that your elderly parent hasn’t been eating enough, you may want to get their vision checked to see if this might be what is going on.

Medications

There are many medications that are often prescribed to the elderly. Some of these are stimulants, while others are anti-depressants. These are just a couple of types of medications that may affect your parent’s appetite. If your parent’s eating issues arose after going on medication, this is something you should talk to their doctor about. They may be able to prescribe a different medication that won’t affect their appetite as much.

Constipation

Unfortunately, there are many people who deal with constipation. This is a common complaint among the elderly. When it comes to elder care, this is something you should keep an eye on. If your parent hasn’t been experiencing regular bowel movements, they may be too uncomfortable to eat. This is something that should be attended to by their primary care doctor.

Oral Health Problems

Is your parent having difficulty with tooth pain? Are they experiencing swelling of their mouth or tooth sensitivity? Are their dentures not fitting properly? If so, this might be the reason why your parent is not eating enough.

Eating Alone

Another reason why your elderly parent is not eating enough might be because they are eating alone. Their spouse may have recently passed away and they feel lonely. If this is the case and nobody else can eat meals with them, it may be time to hire a home care provider who can do so.

If your elderly parent isn’t eating enough, it is important to attend to this problem right away. Nutrition is very important in the elderly and you can make a difference. You can help your parent start eating better.

Sources

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Nbcnews.com

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Stephen Sternbach

CEO at Star Multi Care Services

With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sternbach has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Star Multi Care Services since 1987. After the sale of the New York and New Jersey operations of Star Multi Care Services, Sternbach brought the company private where he remains President and CEO of this 40-million dollar company. With Sternbach at the helm, Star Multi Care Services employs more than 650 employees, in six offices throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

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