… and how you can address them.
The loss of appetite in seniors is a major concern especially because their nutritional needs increase as the years pass by. When they don’t like to eat, health complications may occur as their immune system also declines. Hence, it is vital that family caregivers are aware of how appetite loss can be addressed.
As a key provider of in-home care in Irvine, California, we’ve compiled a list of common causes on the loss of appetite and how you can manage them.
- Sensory Reduction
When a person eats, almost, if not all, of the physical senses are involved. They get to see the food, smell it, touch it, and even hear the crunch inside their mouth. These senses make eating more delightful. However, in their later years, some of these senses decline. With this decline, their appetite will not be as strong as before. To address this, accompany your loved one to get a regular checkup so that these sensory declines can be addressed. They may be prescribed with eyeglasses for their eyes or dentures for their teeth. - Medications
The aging years can also put a senior person at risk for many illnesses and their complications. Hence, they will be prescribed with medications to avoid these ailments. However, the same medications can also bring in side effects that will affect their appetite. To address this, consult with their physician for other possible prescriptions that will not have appetite-changing side effects. If they need assistance in going to the doctor, our team providing live-in care in Irvine, California can keep them company. - Constipation
Seniors can also easily get constipated. Constipation can be caused by age-related changes on their digestive system or side effects to the medicine. To address this, ensure that your loved one gets to eat fiber-rich foods. These foods help ease up digestion so that your loved one can have improved bowel movement. When they’re not constipated, your senior loved one will also not feel like they’re full and will be encouraged to eat. - Oral Diseases
When they go through oral problems such as dental issues or swallowing problems, their appetite can also decline. After all, nobody really wants to eat when they can’t even chew very well. When you detect dental problems in your senior loved one, take them to the dentist for diagnosis and interventions to improve their condition. When they know they can eat well, their eating habits can also improve.
Managing the appetite needs of our aging loved ones may cause us to tap the help of professionals providing non-medical home care in California. If you find that preparing healthy meals for your senior loved one is beyond your personal skills, don’t hesitate to tap our team at Live Life At Home. We are ready to assist you.
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