Caring For an Elder Who Needs to Eat
Dear Barbara, My father fell, was hospitalized and is now home. He just isn’t eating—popsicles but nothing else. The doctors have not offered any suggestions. What should I do?
The elderly, after a fall or illness, often are not much interested in eating. If there are no other health issues, they gradually return to normal eating. In the meantime here are some ideas:
* 3 meals a day are too many and too much.
* Offer small, high protein snacks (custards, cheese and crackers, egg bites, ice cream, smoothies with protein and calories) four times a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime.
* In between the protein snacks offer a protein drink.
Ensure Complete or Boost are easy and you can get them almost anywhere (Kroger, Walgreens, Walmart…). Get the ones with 360 calories per container. Offer him one 3 or 4 times a day. Again, he may not drink it but a little is better than nothing.
* A meat and potatoes meal is just too much.
* Ask him what sounds good. What would he like to eat? He may just take a few bits. That’s okay. You’ve tried.
* Because he likes popsicles, try fudge bars, or ice cream bars since they have more calories and protein. Maybe the cold feels good in his mouth.
* You are trying for as much nutrition, calories and protein in as little quantity as possible.
I don’t know your living situation but you might find my guidebook, By Your Side, A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home, helpful with guidance in caring for him.
Originally Published on https://bkbooks.com/blogs/something-to-think-about
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