Yet she only weighs 98 pounds. Vascular doctor says since her heart is not functioning properly nutrients are not being absorbed by her body. So made an appointment with a cardiologist. She was on hospice and all they suggested was giving her Ensure. Problem is that stuff is full of sugar. I revoked hospice and am getting her real medical help. Hoping somehow to get her weight up. Anyone else experienced such dramatic weight loss in their elderly family members even though they eat regularly?
“Cancer
Stomach or intestinal disease
Depression
Dementia
Diabetes or other endocrine disorders
Heart problems
Alcoholism
Kidney disease
Side effects of medication (can include loss of appetite)
Financial issues
Problems with finding nutritious food or feeding oneself
Not getting enough food (malnutrition)
Late-life paranoia
Dental issues
If none of these apply to you, you aren't alone. The cause of unintentional weight loss is still unknown for up to 28% of patients. “
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/is-it-normal-to-lose-weight-as-you-age
I don't really see what the problem is with the sugar if she's not diabetic. If Ensure is the only thing she's eating as was the case with my mother, she could develop gout. My mother was drinking three Ensures a day with 28 grams of sugar in each one, and she developed terrible gout in her hands and elbows. Her hospice nurse did some research, figured out that it was the Ensure causing it, and once we took her off it and switched to the diabetic version, she was fine.
The goal is weight gain - you can’t do that on a healthy meal plan. Let her have whatever her little heart desires, seriously. She will only gain weight with a high calorie count each and every day.
We made calorie heavy milkshakes - ice cream, Ensure, malted powder or peanut butter powder (protein) - then mix it up other days with fresh fruit or chocolate.
She may also like cakes and cookies - if so, let her eat as much as she wants. Again, you can add healthy ingredients, if you wish.
Just wondering - if there's no diabetes problem, why are you concerned if she drinks something full of sugar? That's what you said in your post: The problem is ensure being full of sugar.
Also, you say she eats regularly, but is her food intake consisting of high calorie foods or does it lean more toward a healthier diet that someone trying to maintain or lose weight would eat?
Was she always on the leaner side during her life? I'm skinny, so a day or so of not feeling well and not eating can cause me to drop pounds quite fast. I can start filling up on sweets, ensure, etc and get it back on - but it does take a bit.
Google found this: Cardiac cachexia is unintentional severe weight loss caused by heart disease. The weight loss might be life-threatening. It can happen to people who have severe heart failure. Even with a very good appetite and high calorie intake, some people lose muscle mass.
For my mother - Weight loss may also be attributed to retention of fluid when heart not pumping well enough to rid it from body. Feet swell. If her heart dr put your mom on some kind of med for swelling, the weight loss you see might be fluid that cleared out.
I even had my Dad's Dr tell me that they would make a weekly batch of brownies for his father to put on extra weight.
Ir's better to have the sugar than the weight loss.
For my 97 yr old Dad, I give soft food easier for him to digest.
Apple sauce, Yogurt, Banana slices, Avocado mashed and mixed with a little applesauce Sweet Potatoes and Yes Blue Bell Ice Cream too!
He loves Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers.
As people get older, they lose their taste buds but can taste sweet sugar.
Also, you really should include Ensure or any of the others brands as they have good Protein.
It’s rough when hospice doesn’t seem to do enough. Best of luck, hope you keep us posted.
If all she wants in Ensure or other liquid meal supplement let her have it.
You can take any food that you would normally eat and puree it and she can drink that if she is having problems with solid foods.
Hospice is for End Of Life / Comfort or choosing to no longer seek curative solutions. If you are making appointments for Cardiologists and other specialists then you are not at the point of accepting End of Life / Comfort Care for mom.