If you are lucky enough to have one or both of your cherished and loved parents alive and close to you, then undoubtedly one of your primary concerns is that they are experiencing a good quality of life and that they are happy, healthy and managing living in their own home.

One of the main elements of self-sufficiency, in people of any age, is that of looking after physical health and wellbeing, specifically pertaining to their consumption of food and drink. With that in mind, continue reading to learn of the most common reasons why your elderly parent’s appetite has decreased over the past few weeks or months.

Dehydration

One of the most common possible reasons that your parent may be unable to eat as much as they could do previously could be due to them not getting enough water and other fluids each and every day.

The best way to counteract this is to make water more interesting, either by investing in a water-chiller, filtered water device or else encouraging your mom or dad to consume foods which are high in water.

Dysphagia

Another supremely common problem for older adults and the elderly in terms of eating or drinking is the development of dysphagia, which is either a problem with chewing, swallowing or sometimes even both.

By far the quickest and simplest way of reducing such symptoms is to purchase an affordable yet incredibly helpful food thickening agent from a renowned and reputable supplier such as Simply Thick Facebook.

Lack Of Structure & Routine

Modern life is built around daily, weekly and annual routines which, although some people find this to be oppressive and even suffocating, it is an entirely necessary part of human life and one that is more difficult to maintain as a person gets older.

If you find that your parent is often not getting out of bed and dressed till midday, or else dresses and bathes at entirely random times of the day, try injecting some greater semblance of routine into their week.

An Inability To Prepare Their Own Meals

A more practical reason why your parent may not be eating as well as they should or more importantly, as they need, is that they simply can no longer easily and without any effort or undue physical stress prepare and cook their own meals.

The good news is there are a variety of options to fix this issue, including yourself or another close friend or family member pre-pairing their meals once or twice a week or even employing the services of a dedicated person will visit your parents every day to ensure they are eating the nutritious and equally delicious meals they need.

An Overall Loss Of Taste

It could well be that the reason your parent isn’t eating as much food as they should be is that they have entirely or even partially lost their ability to taste. Tastebud deterioration is a natural part of getting older, but if your parent is unable to taste much at all it is advisable to book and appointment with their medical doctor.