Weight loss can be a big problem for seniors, but seniors with dementia might have more trouble maintaining their weight. For family caregivers, these weight issues can be really concerning. Understanding why weight loss might be happening allows family caregivers to work around those challenges to keep seniors with dementia healthier. Alzheimer’s home care providers can help families learn more about what’s going on and what they can do to help.
Appetite and Hunger Cue Changes
Dementia interferes with how the brain functions, including functions like appetite and hunger cues. Seniors might also have trouble remembering to eat or have trouble recognizing when it’s time for a meal. They might only eat snacks or skip meals completely and not realize it.
Alzheimer’s home care providers can help by establishing solid routines for meals and reminding seniors to eat.
Trouble Eating and Swallowing
As dementia progresses, seniors might have more trouble with physical issues related to eating or swallowing. Seniors might also find it difficult to hold utensils or move food to their mouths easily. Eating can become frustrating or even exhausting.
Alzheimer’s home care providers can help families adapt meals by offering foods that are easy to eat and using adaptive utensils.
Sensory Changes
Sensory changes are also common with dementia. Foods that seniors used to love eating might no longer taste the same to them, and they may find that they have new preferences. They may also have trouble communicating those preferences and changes, which can lead to frustration.
Alzheimer’s home care providers understand how to help seniors enjoy their meals and possibly eat more than they have been eating.
Increased Restlessness
Some seniors experience restlessness with dementia. That can mean that they’re more active than they used to be, which burns more calories than usual. For many seniors, that translates as unintended weight loss when they’re not increasing their food intake.
Alzheimer’s home care providers can help families to keep track of how active seniors are and what they’re eating, so that unexplained weight changes make more sense.
Depression and Mental Health Changes
Mood changes are common in seniors with dementia. These changes can happen for a variety of different reasons and cover the gamut of feelings ranging from confusion and frustration to anxiety and depression.
Alzheimer’s home care providers offer gentle emotional support and companionship while also giving seniors the hands-on support they need. If seniors seem to have bigger emotional challenges than usual, they can also help to make sure that medical providers are aware of what’s happening.
Medication Side Effects
Some of the medications that seniors take can affect appetite and other variables that affect whether seniors are likely to change their eating habits. Over time, these side effects add up to possible weight loss. Observing those changes and acting on them can help seniors get assistance if they need to change their medications.
Weight loss for seniors who have dementia is usually due to more than one factor. There are usually a variety of possible causes, and Alzheimer’s home care providers can help family caregivers stay on top of what might be going on.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Palm Beach County, FL, please contact the caring staff at Elite Senior Home Care today at (561) 570-6613
