Elder Care in Ashland OH
Martha had always been a somewhat overweight woman. She had been heavier than an ideal weight throughout her young adulthood and as she grew older, she simply continued to gain. Finally she decided that enough was enough and focused her attention on ridding herself of the extra pounds. Over a few years she managed to lose most of her extra weight and was finally within the range of a healthy weight. Then Martha began to show signs that she needed more help around the house and her son stepped in to be her family caregiver. For several months Stan came by Martha’s home every few days to help her do her grocery shopping, take care of the house, and even bring her out on adventures to keep her active. As her condition worsened the time that he spent in the house became more frequent. He hired an elder care provider to help Martha with bathing. One day the elderly health care services provider mentioned that Martha had lost a little bit of weight. Stan realized he had been spending so much time focusing on the possibility of cognitive and physical functioning symptoms that he had not noticed this change. Over the next few weeks, however, he realized that Martha was losing weight as a steady pace and had soon dropped out of the healthy range and into the low range. She told him that she was not doing anything specific to lose weight, and Stan grew concerned. They made an appointment with Martha’s doctor to determine the cause of the weight loss and create a care approach to address it.
Weight loss is something that many people consider part of the normal aging process. While it is true that most older adults who have been over an ideal weight will lose weight as they age, a significant and unintended weight loss is not normal. Weight loss of 5 percent or more over the course of one month should be considered a potentially serious sign and brought to the attention of your senior’s doctor. This will allow you to get to the bottom of the issue and start helping your parent recover.
Use these tips to help you handle unwanted weight loss in your elder care journey:
- Find the reason. Unintended weight loss can be an indication of a wide variety of issues. Your parent might not be getting enough to eat or not have the proper balance of nutrition. She may be suffering from cognitive impairment that makes it difficult for her to remember to eat or how to prepare food. She may also be suffering from a serious medical condition such as colon cancer. Getting the real reason of the weight loss will ensure she gets the help and treatment she needs.
- Support healthy eating. Many seniors resist preparing meals for themselves because they feel like it is a waste of time and energy to cook for just one person. They may also dislike going through that much effort only to eat alone. Support healthier eating by preparing meals for your parent and keeping them easily accessible in the refrigerator or freezer. You can also make eating a more social situation by inviting your parent to eat with you and your family or asking that your parent’s elderly health care services provider partake in meals with her.
- Address underlying concerns. Common challenges that can lead to unwanted weight loss can include difficulty chewing and swallowing, disinterest in food, or loss of ability to smell and taste. Take steps to address these issues effectively so that your parent can resume eating safely, healthily, and comfortably. This can help her to regain some weight and prevent further unwanted weight loss.
If you are considering hiring elder care services near Ashland, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.
Source: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p640.html
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