How do I help My 94-year-old aunt taste food and eat on her own again?

This being the holiday season, I hit upon a taste enhancement when I ordered mom a Peppermint Mocha. Now I either throw a chunk of candy cane into her mocha or hot chocolate...or a few drops of Mint Extract. This seems to excite her taste buds. Junior Mints are a good bribe or reward.

Great idea, I'll try this. I am finding that what she used to like has changed, maybe she's ready for new, like mint.

As we age there is a decline in our ability to taste and smell. Your aunt's advanced age may be playing a part in her inability to taste.

Inhaler medications may also distort the ability to appreciate tastes and smells. (You might check with her physician about this possibility.)

Depression may also play a part in causing food to seem tasteless. But at 94, having medical problems and being away from home and comfortable routines, who wouldn't be a bit depressed?

Your efforts to enhance the flavors of her foods and keep a cheerful attitude may be the best things you can do at this stage of her life.

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I will keep up a positive attitude. We are waiting to hear from her dr. about her meds to see if that will help. She will eat a good breakfast, and drink anything I put to her lips. She is being kind to me I know. She is also wise and clear thinking and knows she needs the nurishment to heal as much as her body will. Thanks for all the support.

I don't know if you are still interested or in need of any more advice but, as a former Hospice nurse I had a lot of different issues with my patients and food. I found that a frequent 'tool' that helped quite a few of my patients (especially with taste issues) was called magic mouthwash. It consisted of equal parts Maalox, lidocaine and benadryl. It especially helped take away the metal taste for many of my patients after chemo and radiation side effects.