As individuals grow older, it’s normal for their eating habits to change. Seniors often have less of an appetite or develop routines involving specific foods—oatmeal for breakfast and a sandwich at lunch, for example. As long as they’re still getting the calories and nutrients they need, these changes and routines are perfectly fine.
Unfortunately, some seniors face more serious challenges and find themselves struggling to eat—an issue that can have a serious impact on one’s quality of life. If this is an issue you’re seeing, here are some recommendations on how to support your aging loved one.
Start by talking to their doctor
First, seek guidance from a medical professional to determine the root of the issue. It could be related to dental health, motor skills, digestive issues, cognitive decline or other conditions. Problems chewing or swallowing food will be handled differently than a lack of appetite, so start by having a conversation with your aging loved one and their family doctor.
Consider these suggestions
If your loved one is able to chew and swallow safely but is dealing with a lack of appetite:
- Consider homemade smoothies packed with vitamins and nutrients. Ask your loved one’s doctor if they can recommend a protein powder or other source of added (but healthy!) calories. In a pinch, they can also try a product like Ensure.
- Focus on offering healthy, nutrient-dense foods that offer protein and/or fibre and other nutrients. You may want to offer eggs, quinoa or oatmeal. Work in avocados, nuts and legumes, meat or fish and as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible.
- Try different things. Some seniors may want three meals a day whereas others may thrive when offered a healthy snack five times a day. If they can’t eat much in a single sitting, offer a bowl of oatmeal with their morning coffee followed by a late morning snack of yogurt with fruit and nuts, then a salad or sandwich in the early afternoon followed by a homemade smoothie in the late afternoon, and as much as they can feel up for at dinnertime. Experiment with different routines and see what they enjoy best!
- Ask your loved one what they’re craving. They may eat more if they’re given a specific dish they’ve been thinking about, some homemade soup, their favourite takeout meal or a hearty stew.
- Eat with them! Sometimes, a senior will eat more during a shared meal. So, get social and have lunch or dinner together as often as possible (our caregivers can also join your aging loved one for meals during their shift).
- Ask their medical professional about appetite stimulants, if necessary.
If your loved one is having physical issues with food:
- Talk to their doctor about it. There may be medications to help with digestive problems including diarrhea, constipation or acid reflux. A dietian can also provide food recommendations based on various needs and/or conditions.
- Find out which textures work best. Some individuals may struggle with crunchy foods but do well with softer dishes, whereas some individuals prefer a firm bite and have trouble stomaching soft dishes. It’s all very personal, so speak to your loved one and their medical team to find the best approach. This may take some trial and error, so be patient.
- Look into thickened liquids. If choking is a concern, a thickening powder can be a simple solution that aids in the intake of water and other beverages.
Contact us for in-home caregiver support
We hope these tips are helpful and again, strongly suggest that you speak with your loved one’s family doctor or other medical professionals to ensure that they’re getting the best possible nutrition for their specific needs. If you’d like to learn more about in-home caregiver services in Toronto and the surrounding areas, please contact us. Our skilled, dedicated Personal Support Workers (PSWs) offer personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping and more. Thanks for reading, and take care!