How to stimulate appetite in a 100year old

[Putali]

HI, I help care for a 100 year old dear who is doing very well... of late she has had a reduced appetite and as a result is loosing weight, and energy. I have had the GP look at her and treat a low grade chest infection but she is still not eating well.... infact over the last 2 years she has eaten less and less but in all fairness she doesnt do any excercise at all, just walks down the hall to the lounge and back again. Her weight loss has been very noticable in the last 3 weeks.
So my question is... "Is there a natural appetite stimulate that anyone knows about?"
and "Can anyone give me advice on good foods to feed her so when she takes a little in that little is nutritionally high?" thanks

[chigirl29]

Have you tried Ensure?  I really hated the taste so I used Boost instead and put crushed ice in it--it made it like a shake almost in taste.  She might like it.

I don't know about stimulants because they can affect heart rate--at least the ones I am knowledgeable about.

I don't know if this helps much, but I hope someone else has better suggestions.

[whatayear]

two that are very very good one is very expensive but worth every single penny its called the ultimate meal you can watch a video about the stuff on youtube it is all natural and very high in nutrients and protien. the other you can get at the local grocery store it is by Naked Juice called I believe just protien drink its a small bottle has 500 calories and 39 grams of protein its all natural and taste awesome I could live on them if I wouldnt gain weight with them!  it is a complete meal and if you read reviews about Naked juice everyone loves them and they are very good for you! Also full fat yougarts like FAGE its in the organic isle and the best yougart I have ever had in my life....I get the one with honey but they have all tons of flavors it is 12 grams of fat and 250 calories you could actually mix the yougart minus the topping with the protien shake and you would have a 750 calorie meal that would be about 8 oz to drink not alot and she could sip on this and get enough calories to start gaining weight. this 3 times a day would be 2250 calories that enough to keep her from loosing.

[frootbar]

liquid b vitamins and fish oil.
fb C.N.

[jo929]

i dont know how nutrcios it is but when i worked in the hosp none of the elderly turned down a malt or milkshake maybe some kind of viatimin with the malt     lots luck at 100 years of age any food would be benificial than not eating    lots luck  jo

[caregiver222]

My little sweetie pie is almost 103. And she has just recovered from a horrific hospital experience. The bright spot is she hugged me last night and said: "I'm so happy!". I try to make every meal a pleasant experience, with the aides setting up food properly on a silver tray with a napkin, four flavors of beverage, and everything in apple pie order. Weight loss is sometimes due to thyroid medication. If you give too much the basal metabolism rate can increase tremendously. This often happens when an aide gives thyroid meds with applesauce, the TSH is shown to be abnormal, and then the thyropid med is administered properly with an increased dose. The basal metabolism can double. This will result in weight loss. I have the aides produce a daily "calorie count". Every teaspoon, with the caloric value, is logged in the book and we have a daily caloric "goal". I didn't always do this, until she started losing weight. I make them "show their work", just like in the second grade. Last night, at 11:30 P.M., I left her and said I wanted thirty calories of lemon pie filling in her and three ounces of liquid before she went to sleep. This was complied with and she went to sleep at 1 A.M. Often the elderly have a disturbed circadian rhytym and are only hungry at odd hours. Nursing homes operate on a 9-5 basis, unfortunately. My sweetie-pie likes to eat late.

[caregiver222]

The ultimate meal is pretty good. I like to use organic mashed potatoes, souped up with organic butter (70 calories per tablespoon) and egg protein plus whey protein. I use various flavors of gravy and hot sauce.

[TheExModel]

Try to make her drink a glass of milk half an hour before food... It works for me... I was told that trick by a dietition