Your elderly loved one is not eating. What should you do?

You’ve noticed recently that your elderly loved one has lost their appetite for food.

You have tried making their favorite meals.

They don’t appear to be sick.

But they are still struggling to eat.

It’s bothering you because you are not sure they are getting all the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

What should you do?

In this post, I will cover what you can do.

Your elderly loved one is not eating. What should you do?

Talk to your loved one about it

Ask them why they are not eating. If it is something as simple as “I rather eat something else”, then this tends to be an easier fix.

The elderly may also reject food when chewing has become too difficult or painful for them.

An older adult may not tell you that it hurts when they chew. They might assume it is just an “old age” thing.

Dental problems are a common reason why the elderly struggle with chewing their food.

An older adult who has had multiple fillings and/or who has not seen their dentist in a long time may struggle with a tooth infection that resurfaces.

The infection can cause swelling and contribute to the pain of chewing.

Getting dental attention immediately is absolutely important here.

This is why it is important to investigate and find out why your loved one is not eating.

Prepare meals that are easier to eat

Sometimes a dental problem is not the culprit.

If the food you’re offering your elderly loved one is tough to chew, they may not eat it at all.

Of course, it is important to make it to their liking, but meat can be tenderized, vegetables can be a little softer and perhaps the potatoes can be mashed.

Seek medical attention

While you may not have noticed anything physically wrong with your loved one, a sudden appetite loss could indicate a serious health problem.

Thus, make arrangements for your loved one to see a doctor immediately.

A medical examination will reveal if there is anything that needs to be taken care of.

It’s better to seek early care than for the underlying health issue to get out of hand.

If your elderly loved one is not eating, taking time to investigate and find out what may be going is an important, and possibly life-changing move.

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