My grandma is 85 has some heart issues from a TAVR procedure. She caught covid and pneumonia in December. For a long time before she has been cutting down on her eating. Since December she's cut down even more, has lost alot of weight and is not drinking enough fluids either. Her BP is low, blood sugar is also low from lack of food. She eats less than a child. My mom has tried everything and many foods to get her to eat and she's still being picky. She uses more energy to throw food out and refuse it than eat. It's awful watching her waste away in front of us. Her Dr was wondering if she has the beginning stages of dementia. We are waiting to see a neurologist to confirm. Just wondering if anyone has dealt with this and if anything has helped or food suggestions? We are now going to try anything she will eat, she gravitates more towards sweets so trying that.
Try smoothies. Sometimes, they drink more than eating plates of food.
If my mom saw a large plate of food, she would say, “Oh, that’s too much!” Serve her food on a small lunch portion plate.
It can often be harmful for someone to eat more than they feel comfortable eating. In a lot of cases, the elderly don't need much to stay alive. If she likes sweets, sweets it is! I tell my mom she gets to eat and drink whatever she wants without regard for health these days. Your grandma may have pain on digesting, or she might choke on food and aspirated it and get pneumonia.
If she's still "with it," try to be respectful of her wishes, even if it seems they're hurting her. If she does have dementia, I'm sorry to say that's a terminal condition, and not eating contributes to the dying process. There's not much you can do in that case.
But you might want to talk with your mom about how to make grandma feeling the happiest and most loved at this time of her life without worrying about calories, you know? We all die eventually, and I wouldn't want my last memories to be of my loved ones irritated or distressed with me because I wasn't eating well. Take care, sweetheart. Let us know how she does.
About three weeks before my mother passed away at 95, she picked at small amounts of food that often got stuck in her esophagus. Family and I would gently pat her back to move it down to her stomach.
It creates more anxiety for her and you folks trying to force or insist that she eat or what she eats. See what the PCP assessment re dementia shows. At her age and the medical history you describe she may be declining more or she may be grieving her condition and fearful of the future. You may want to be sure that she is being seen weekly by her faith leader of choice or a local chaplain for spiritual and emotional support; this may also help you, the family. You all should practice good self care also !!
If she continues not to eat , you may want to tell the PCP that you want her assessed by hospice for potential hospice care; hospice is about living with a life limiting illness not dying and, it ( hospice) may at some point provide good support for her and you folks, the family. You can also contact a hospice of your choice to just get more information and talk with them about the observed changes and history of her health.
Take some self care time.
this is typical.
taste buds die, and food seems tasteless - but sweets have a stronger flavor, so people crave sweets.
i hope soon your grandmother will eat more :).