I love my mother dearly, so when I visited her the other day I was shocked and alarmed at her appearance. She seems to be losing a little more weight each time I see her! When I ask her about it, she doesn’t seem to notice and isn’t bothered by her increasingly shrinking frame. My father has also lost weight and I am concerned they aren’t taking care of themselves and eating enough.
When we were young kids this was never the problem – my parents encouraged us to eat everything on our plates and they did the same. Now, while I’m trying to eat less and move more, I want my parents to join the “clean plate club” again.
According to Mayo Clinic, older adults who aren’t consuming enough may be doing so due to illness, difficulty chewing and swallowing, certain medications or frailty (muscle loss). Your parents’ sense of taste or smell could have also decreased which would make dinnertime seem much less appealing that before.
Depression and the lack of a social network can also make your loved ones refrain from eating. I think part of the problem with my parents is that they were relied upon for many years to provide meals for children and grandchildren; now that most of us and our kids are grown they aren’t called to do so anymore. Part of what my mother loved was physically preparing a meal in a busy, active environment and as much as she loves my father – he can’t provide that. So what are some things you can do to help your parents or grandparents stay healthy?
Take them out to eat. Not only can you monitor how much they’re eating, but you’ll also get to spend quality time with them.
Become familiar with the medications they are on. Ask a pharmacist, nurse, or doctor how your loved one’s medications affect his or her appetite and weight. With many drugs, you can also visit the company website and read the side effects and the directions on how to take the drug.
Spend on afternoon cooking with them. In just a few hours a month, you can help your parent or grandparent prepare large amounts of nutritionally dense foods that can be stored in the freezer. Label these containers with days of the week if your family member tends to forget things. You can even create a quick menu to post on the refrigerator that reminds them what to eat. There are many recipes that can be found online now for free. Prevention magazine online has 15 minute meals that are both easy to prepare and enjoyable to eat. Check it out here: http://recipes.prevention.com/Recipes/SearchResults.aspx?CriteriaIds=8_15
Add some spice. Some older adults are on diets and need to adhere to less than exciting foods but you can help make it more appealing. Grab some spices, herbs, or seasonings to add some flavor to an otherwise bland meal. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for some more ideas.
Make sure they get their 8 (at least). To avoid dehydration, make sure your loved one is getting enough to drink. Whether they just forget or they don’t want to add extra trips to the bathroom, Enid Borden, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels, says older adults often do not drink enough fluids. Create a checklist for the fridge or a mirror in the bathroom that reminds them to drink at least 8 cups of fluid a day. They should be able to prevent incontinence as long as have their last glass 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Encourage physical activity. Aside from the many benefits of exercise, a walk or a swim may stimulate their appetite. There is also a variety of group exercise classes aimed at individuals 65 and older. Not only do participants reap the physical benefits in these classes but they also can have their social needs fulfilled as well.
If you need other information or suggestions, check out these great websites:
http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100218233
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/senior-health/HA00066