It can be challenging to get seniors to eat when they do not have an appetite. There are endless reasons why our elderly refuse to eat. But the fact remains that you are concerned about their health and are doing all that you can to provide the nutrition their bodies need. Even basic changes are all you need to make a difference. In this article, we bring you some suggestions to encourage our elderly who no longer have an appetite. Make sure to be patient, keep experimenting, be creative, and do not get discouraged when you are trying these ideas.
How To Overcome The Loss Of Appetite With Ageing
- Create A Regular Meal Schedule
When your elderly have a consistent everyday routine and get their meals served every day at the same time, it helps their body get prepared to eat. Make sure you do not depend on your senior’s capacity to feel hungry before serving them food because it significantly goes south with age.
- Serve Small Portions
Many people feel a little overwhelmed when they see their plates filled with a large amount of food, so make sure to serve them smaller portions instead. As an alternative, you can always try to switch to an everyday routine when your loved one eats five small meals rather than three large ones.
Increase their intake of healthy calories in those smaller portions by adding the following foods:
- Olive oil
- Peanut butter
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Utensils Can Be Avoided
It can be extremely frustrating not to be able to eat with a fork, spoon or knife, and it can make some seniors end up eating nothing at all. You can help them eat their meals easily by serving them food that they can eat without cutlery.
- Stock Up Your Kitchen With Quick, Healthy Snacks
Many seniors like to graze the entire day instead of eating full meals. So, keep delicious, healthy snacks stocked up in your kitchen. This way, your elder will be able to choose from nutritional options.
- Keep track of What Is Working For Them
Keep an eye on what food your elder is enjoying, what they don’t prefer eating, and what is difficult for them to digest. You must also track the times of the day they love to eat or when they have an improved appetite. This way, you will be able to try out things that are working well for them and remove the things that are not.
End Note
At Artha Senior Care, our caregivers and nurses keep a detailed record of what the elderly like to eat, when they prefer eating their meals, and which foods they are able to digest quickly. We offer customised meal plans for our seniors based on their preferences, favourite dishes, and nutritional value. At Artha, all that matters is the perfect health of our seniors. Contact us today for more details.
