This article is part of a series on elderly care. The series provides important information about caregiving practices.
One of the most difficult parts of elderly care for family members is noticing the impact that poor eating habits has on their loved one’s overall health.
Even for professional caregivers, knowing how to get someone to eat when they refuse is one of the more challenging aspects of the job.
Read on to find out how to compassionately encourage an elderly person to eat, as well as how an indoor security camera can be essential in remotely overseeing regular mealtimes, and discover some of the best food for elderly with no appetite.
Table of Contents
How Can I Help the Elderly to Remember to Eat?
While weight loss is far from uncommon for seniors, with more than a quarter of older adults experiencing unexpected weight loss, there’s nothing inherent about aging that causes it.
That’s why it shouldn’t be assumed to be ‘natural’ or ‘normal’. It can indicate malnourishment.
Below are 5 essential tips on how to get someone to eat when they refuse, forget, or lack an appetite.
1. Set scheduled mealtimes
A loss of structure and schedule is something that can exacerbate weight loss and worsen mental health overall. Scheduling all mealtimes and snack times, including times to drink throughout the day, may be helpful in reinstating structure into daily life.
Schedules can ensure that elderly folks eat even if their appetite is diminished. Eating at the same time every day also better prepares the body to anticipate food and drink at specific times.
Be aware that seniors with a dementia diagnosis may struggle with a schedule, in which case the caregiver will almost always need to be present to facilitate mealtimes.
2. Two-way audio camera
Not all seniors require round-the-clock care, but it’s still important that informal caregivers have some level of awareness of how much food and water are being consumed at scheduled times, particularly if they notice signs of unexplained weight loss.
A camera in the kitchen can be a helpful way for caregivers to occasionally touch base and ensure that food and water are being consumed, especially if they aren’t able to show up in person.
Two-way audio allows both parties to chat to one another through the camera, so caregivers can politely encourage eating or drinking and, most importantly, avoid compromising dignity.
Better elderly care with AlfredCamera
Full-time care is expensive, awkward to organize, and sometimes not necessary. While nothing beats the companionship of being there in-person, this isn’t always possible for informal caregivers with busy lives.
AlfredCamera allows caregivers and seniors to stay in touch in a casual way thanks to two-way talk. Download Alfred onto a phone, and then choose other devices to use as cameras—old phones, tablets, computers, or AlfredCam, a dedicated hardware security camera.
Once placed around the home as needed (check out the Build a Video Monitoring System section), caregivers and seniors can spend mealtimes together by chatting back and forth through the camera. Caregivers can gently encourage seniors that might be nervous in the kitchen, and ensure that food is being eaten.
Set up motion detection at specific parts of the day to correspond with scheduled mealtimes, and caregivers will be notified when, for instance, someone enters the kitchen to prepare lunch. Caregivers can more easily stay on top of unexpected weight loss.
Get started now by downloading AlfredCamera for free on iOS and Android, then learn more about what AlfredCam can do for you in our overview.
3. Reduce portion sizes
If an elderly person is refusing or forgetting to eat, forcing them to eat more to make up for lack of calorie intake is counterintuitive and deeply undermines their integrity. It would also end up being a waste of food.
Instead, compromise: reduce meal sizes and incorporate high-calorie and nutrient-rich ingredients. The best foods for elderly with no appetite include:
- Avocado
- Leafy greens, including spinach and kale
- Olive and vegetable oils
- Butter
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Grains, including bulgur wheat and quinoa
- Fatty meats, including pork and beef
- Oily fish, including salmon
- Granola
- Eggs
- Full-fat dairy, including yogurt and cheese
Source: MedicalNewsToday
4. Meal prep
If it becomes apparent that the person being cared for is not eating because they aren’t preparing their meals, caregivers must undertake meal prep.
Elderly folks that have experienced falls in the past may be wary of moving around the kitchen, which can be hazardous. This can discourage seniors from cooking.
If the elderly person is not eating all the time, keep in mind the intention to reduce meal sizes when preparing foods for the week.
Simple, easy-to-eat meals that can be eaten straight out of the fridge or microwaved work best, since they can be ‘assembled’ immediately by the person eating them.
Stimulate the appetite with:
- Leafy green salads (kale, spinach) with olive oil-based dressings, avocados, legumes, and grains like bulgur wheat or quinoa
- Salmon or chicken-based salads with olive oil-based dressings
- Granola with chopped fruits and full-fat milk for breakfast (granola with nuts for those that don’t suffer from nut allergies)
- Saucy pasta or rice meals with leafy greens and a protein (pre-grated full-fat cheese can also be added on top)
- Full-fat yogurts for dessert
- Liberal quantities of butter, oil, and cream to increase calorie intake
Kitchens should always be modified with the needs of the person occupying it in mind. But the potential for spilling liquids and the presence of flammable objects and appliances make it a space that can really benefit from the presence of an indoor surveillance camera.
Keep an eye on things with AlfredCam, and be instantly alerted to motion in the kitchen.
5. Smoothies & Shakes
Sometimes, an elderly person may completely refuse to eat. This is generally associated with later stages of dementia, in which case, it isn’t always a question of ‘how do you remind someone with dementia to eat?’, but ‘how do you get someone with dementia to eat?’.
While it’s easier said than done, a reliable way to at least ensure a person is consuming sufficient calories and nutrients is to invest in a food processor and make smoothies or shakes for them.
This shouldn’t be prioritized as a solution by caregivers because the process of chewing and swallowing hard foods is beneficial, but it may become increasingly necessary if a person is severely underweight.
It also allows caregivers to healthily cater to the sweet tooth that seniors sometimes have. Smoothies and shakes for elderly people should include foods like:
- Leafy greens – large quantities of spinach or kale can be packed into smoothies more or less unnoticed when combined with sweeter foods
- Blueberries – widely regarded a superfood, blueberries can sweeten up a smoothie in a healthy way
- Bananas – great for making up the bulk of a smoothie, they can be combined with strawberries for a tasty treat
- Full-fat yogurt, milk – smoothies and shakes are an easy way to introduce plenty of dairy into the diet. Don’t fear full-fat options—undernourished people can benefit from them
- Nuts, legumes, seeds – protein-rich foods that aren’t meat, like nuts, legumes, and seeds, can be added liberally without altering the flavor
- Avocado – aside from being nutrient-dense, avocados add butteriness and a creamy texture to the mix
- Powders, vitamins – different kinds of powder, including protein powders, and other supplements can be easily incorporated into smoothies and shakes to make up for deficiencies, but it won’t always be necessary. Always consult a doctor or nutritionist before incorporating any kind of supplements.
Satisfying the sweet tooth?
Many caregivers may have noticed that elderly folks seemingly develop a sweet tooth as they age. They might eat very little at dinner time, but dessert goes down a treat. It’s not entirely clear what causes this, since dietary changes in general can be ascribed to all kinds of things, from ill-fitting dentures to depression. If eating less in general, sugar cravings are likely to increase.
While conditions like diabetes must be monitored closely, the sweet tooth can be indulged to some degree. After all, a caregiver’s role isn’t to deprive someone the pleasures of life!
Smoothies and shakes are an excellent vehicle for balancing the demands of a sweet tooth with those of the body, because nutrient-dense foods can be easily ‘concealed’ with tasty fruits, a drizzle of honey, or even a little chocolate.
How Do You Deal with an Elderly Person Who is Not Eating?
Emotionally, dealing with an elderly person who isn’t eating can be difficult, especially if that person is related to you. Patience, both for yourself and the person being cared for, is crucial to dealing with the situation in helpful ways.
Consulting the doctor is the first and most important thing to do should someone notice weight loss.
A loss of appetite can be caused by a whole plethora of things, from medicines and prescription drugs to mental health problems, so a doctor should be able to help narrow down the causes and provide some perspective.
If the cause is unclear, here are some tricks to stimulate appetite in the elderly:
1. Appetite stimulants
If a doctor observes dangerous levels of weight loss, they may prescribe an appetite stimulant like megestrol acetate, mirtazapine, or dronabinol.
This is unlikely unless they diagnose wasting syndrome (Cachexia), which may be caused by terminal illnesses, or unless the person is severely malnourished.
The best appetite stimulant for elderly people will be recommended by the doctor on a case-by-case basis, and may require trial-and-error to find what works best.
2. Water
A lack of liquids can contribute to a loss of appetite for foods. Not drinking adequate amounts of liquid is equally problematic anyway, since it can lead to severe dehydration. Gently encourage greater consumption of water (between 2.7 to 3.7 liters of liquids a day).
3. Tasty food
Bad food is just that. Bad. Busy caregivers might gravitate towards frozen ready meals because they seem convenient, but these are highly processed and not particularly pleasant to eat.
Meal prepping for seniors gives them the same convenience as they would have eating ready-meals, but allows for more appetizing food to be prepared. Tastier food is simply more enticing, and is key to increasing appetite in elderly naturally.
Should I force my elderly parent to eat?
Never force someone that has the capacity to eat through the mouth to eat. It will have the opposite effect of the one intended. Instead, patiently and kindly encouraging them with tasty, pre-prepared food is important in maintaining their dignity.
Eat with them; meals should be a social occasion whenever possible, as is the case at any age. If the issue persists, consult a doctor. They may prescribe an appetite stimulant or identify a medicine that is causing the loss of appetite.
Is Not Eating a Stage of Dementia?
Not eating is not considered a ‘stage’ of dementia, but it is commonly seen in people with Alzheimer’s, where between 10-15% of people who have it don’t eat or drink enough.
Dementia ‘stages’ describe the severity of the disorder, and are generally separated into seven stages, from no observable impairments to end-stage dementia.
It is in the later stages that unexpected weight loss occurs, but its specific cause is wide-ranging; prescription medicines, depression, inability to swallow, and becoming catatonic are some of the possible causes.
To learn more about the seven stages of dementia and how to approach it as a caregiver, take a look at our article detailing how to care for someone with dementia.
FAQ
How do you remind someone with dementia to eat?
The easiest way to remind someone with dementia to eat is to join them at mealtimes. Meals should not be presented as a chore or task, but a time for socializing and relaxing. Praise the food and gently encourage them to eat. Earlier stages of dementia may not require being present all the time, in which case refer to the five tips above.
What are the signs of an elderly person’s body shutting down?
Rapid and unexpected weight loss is a strong indicator that an elderly person’s body isn’t adequately nourished. Blood tests and other examinations will also be able to determine the relative health of the person’s body, so caregivers should not hesitate to take them to the doctor (or have a doctor visit the house) if they are anxious about health decline.
What is food neophobia in the elderly?
Food neophobia is defined as a reluctance to eat novel or new foods. Hence, it’s a term generally applied to children, though elderly people may exhibit similar kinds of behavioral traits. Research is still new, but it’s thought that older adults at risk of developing malnutrition may have higher food neophobia.
Generally, however, being averse to new foods as an elderly person doesn’t mean that the person will become malnourished so long as they continue to eat the foods they have always eaten.
Importantly, food neophobia resembles Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, an eating disorder characterized by avoiding and restricting intake of certain foods. If caregivers notice eating habits become increasingly specific alongside weight loss, it can be indicative of an eating disorder, which a doctor will be able to diagnose. Despite a distinct lack of information provided for older people, eating disorders can occur at any age and may continue unnoticed for decades.
Can lack of food cause confusion in elderly?
Yes, a lack of food will eventually cause confusion in elderly people, much as it would for anyone of any age. It may also cause slurred speech, fainting and seizures
What are the effects of starvation in the elderly?
Starvation presents itself in various symptoms in the elderly. Low blood sugar, or a blood sugar crash, will occur first, which itself brings about initial symptoms like nausea, dizziness, shaking. Eventually, it causes slurred speech, confusion, fainting, seizures, and extreme fatigue.
If the person continues to starve over an extended period, they are eventually described as malnourished. This means their body lacks the necessary calories, carbs, proteins, fats, and critical minerals and nutrients. This will cause hair loss, paleness or jaundice, dryness, emaciation (thinness), decreased muscle tone, increased bruising, rashes, and general skin irritation.
Source: VeryWell Health
Conclusion
When someone forgets, refuses, or is indifferent to eating, it can have a serious impact on their health. The knock-on effects are extensive, and not eating will exacerbate all existing health conditions.
Patience is a virtue when it comes to encouraging someone or reminding them to eat. Most importantly, presenting food as a ‘chore’ is to be avoided at all costs, because it only inspires greater aversion to food.
Always consult a doctor or nutritionist for advice about eating habits, especially for those living with a terminal illness. During the later stages of a terminal illness, a feeding tube may be required to ensure they are sufficiently nourished, which a healthcare professional can advise on.
Check out some of the resources below for more information
Visiting Angels
Care.com
Dailycaring
Elderly Care Series:
A Guide To Elderly Care For Dementia Patients
20 Essential Elderly Care Supplies for New Caregivers
The True Cost of Elderly Care at Home
Getting to Grips with Levels of Elderly Care
What Are the Types of Elderly Care? The 6 Care Services You Need to Know
9 Effective Elderly Care Tips to Help Your Parents in their Golden Years
How to Remind Elderly People to Take Pills: Schedules, Medication Reminder Apps, & More