Lack of appetite in older adults is called hyporexia and is a condition that requires attention and a health checkup to rule out that it is a symptom of any disease.
According to the article Lack of appetite in the elderly, causes of hyporexia (2022), these are the following: a) because at this stage of development the body does not require a caloric intake similar to previous stages, b) as a result of a decrease in olfactory and gustatory capacity or c) as an adverse reaction to a drug. The affective and emotional areas should also be reviewed in this situation, since sometimes depression or feelings of loneliness have an impact on the appetite of the person who experiences them.
First and foremost, it is important not to neglect the situation and make sure that the person receives the necessary nutrients.
Some recommendations in the face of decreased appetite are the following (Loss of appetite in the elderly, n.d.):
1. Feeding time monitoring
Try to make sure that while the elderly person is being fed, he/she is not left alone so that we can make sure that he/she has eaten the portion that has been served to him/her.
2. Ensure that food portions are rich in nutrients and caloric content.
We must prevent the elderly from consuming only flour-based foods and depriving themselves of nutrients from other food groups. That is why we insist so much on the importance of a balanced diet.
In addition, in the case of those who show a lack of appetite, it is essential that what they consume nourishes them in a caloric way so that they do not experience a decrease in their body mass.
3. Incorporate your favorite dishes
As long as the older adult does not have an appetite, we can incorporate in his diet some dishes that he has always liked and, of course, take into account his opinion regarding what he wants to eat, without this meaning to leave aside the healthy diet.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that these suggestions are not a substitute for a physician's review of the older adult's health status. Although we can put them into practice, it is necessary to know the cause of the lack of appetite.
Bibliographic references
Lack of appetite in the elderly, causes of hyporexia (2022). Retrieved from: https://www.larescvalenciana.org/falta-de-apetito-en-ancianos-que-lo-causa/
Loss of appetite in the elderly (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://www.sanitas.es/sanitas/seguros/es/particulares/biblioteca-de-salud/tercera-edad/alimentacion/perdida-apetito.html
