In the last week or two my mother has been eating less and less each day. She won't even try to eat. She has two cans of ensure a day, which comes to 700 calories, but that's not enough to sustain her. She won't even try to eat. I've got all the foods she likes around, but to no avail. Help. Does anyone have any suggestions?
The doctor says it's the stress of my father's being ill, which I think is the case, but she is positive something's wrong and that she's going to die before he does. He's 95 and she's 88. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Try to tempt her with easy foods - fruits, ice cream, jello - anything that has some calories but doesn't take effort to digest.
You could check with a local dietician at a nursing home or hospital for more suggestions, but her doctor seems to have it pegged. You can't force her to eat. Don't pressure her or it could get worse. But temp her the best you can and keep in touch with the doctor.
Carol
FINALLY one doctor, to whom I shall always be grateful took a look at her meds and said, "Oh, I see she's taking (whatever it was); sometimes that can make food taste bad. Let's get her off of it." BOOM! In three days she was eating---not huge amounts, but small amounts of healthy food. Get the doctors to go over her meds with you REALLY CAREFULLY. Too many doctors don't especially want to deal with old people and will dismiss their complaints as "just part of being old." NEVER accept that as an answer. Hugs and good luck to you!
When my husband (dementia, 85) is having a down day and doesn't want to eat he will almost always take a milk shake which I make with ice cream, milk, and Carnation Instant Breakfast -- sometimes adding peanut butter, bannana or other fruit. He will not consider Boost or Ensure, but milkshakes are fine. He also likes V8 juice over ice.
Would her doctor try an anti-depressant on her? Some of them make you VERY hungry.
Sorry not much help.
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