Reasons for Lack of Appetite in the Elderly
Has your elderly loved one been experiencing a lack of appetite? Maybe they say they aren’t hungry when you ask if they want to go out to eat. A home care provider would also notice that they aren’t eating as much as normal. This can pose a problem. However, before finding the solution to this issue, it is important to learn about the reasons for the lack of appetite in the elderly. Once you can find the reason, then, you can find a solution.
Mental Health Issues
There are many senior citizens who experience mental health issues. Some of the most common mental health issues for the elderly include depression, stress, grief, and anxiety. If your elderly loved one is feeling overwhelmed by mental health issues, this could be causing their lack of appetite.
If this is suspected, the first step is to talk with your elderly loved one. If you feel they aren’t going to be comfortable talking to you about these things, maybe they will talk to a home care provider. Once you can get to the bottom of their mental health issues, you can come up with a list of possible solutions. These might range from exercising, getting therapy, or having someone around more often. If the solutions work, it is likely that your elderly loved one’s appetite will return.
Medications
There are many different medications that have a lack of appetite listed as a side effect. If your elderly loved one is on new medications and they suddenly lost their appetite, this is likely the cause. If they have been on a certain medication for a while and didn’t experience this lack of appetite until now, this likely isn’t the cause. If you do suspect medications to cause moderate to severe lack of appetite for your elderly loved one, make sure they see their doctor about this. The doctor might be able to prescribe an alternative medication to help your elderly loved one get their appetite back.
Illnesses
There are also many illnesses that can cause a lack of appetite in the elderly. Some of the illnesses that can cause this issue include the flu, respiratory infections, appendicitis, and cancer. If you or a home care provider suspect that an illness is causing the lack of appetite for your elderly loved one, be sure to schedule them a doctor’s appointment right away. If your elderly loved one can’t or doesn’t want to eat at all, get them emergent medical attention.
Conclusion
There are many reasons for the lack of appetite in the elderly. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have much of an appetite, make sure to find the reason for this issue. Then, you can help them to find a solution. Home care providers can play a vital role in ensuring your senior receives proper nutrition.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4589891/#:~:text=The%20physiological%20changes%20that%20occur,can%20contribute%20to%20declining%20appetite