So many older adults struggle with an eating disorder, making it vitally important to ensure we're helping those we love maintain a healthy diet. This article explains more: https://superiorseniorhomecare.com/the-dangers-of-eating-disorders-in-seniors-and-how-to-help/

Great suggestions, especially for a senior who has no appetite or refuses to eat what they formerly enjoyed.

Lynette, some elders are like children. Sometimes children have to be the parents. Does she live with you? Are you giving her access? Just limit the intake. If she is skinny, nothing wrong with a little bit of that in small amounts.

My 90 year old father will eat the full fat dairy and starches, but won't eat items 1,2, & 3. One quick comment about the 1st additional tip. Whole flax seeds are difficult to digest and tend to pass through the digestive system. It is generally recommended to use ground flax seed to get their full benefit. Also, a diverticulitis flare up can be exacerbated by eating chia, flax, or any small seeds. Not always, but possibly.

@lynette523, Ice Cream isn't really junk food - and it adds calories and the desire to eat. I started with Hot Cocoa (Ensure) and added Ice Cream and DH would have this several times a day. It kept him from losing weight. Yes, it is sugar, but also dairy and fat.

I also add powdered protein to his nutritional shakes. You have to maximize the minimal meals any way you can. At 96-1/2, I say, let them eat ice cream! He's still alive and walking. Win-win.

I make avocado brownies and they go fast. The chia seeds would never work ( 'what's those black specks?') My parents go for anything sweet so I do make smoothies now and then and try to substitute fruit cups for candy. I'm hearing conflicting ideas about whether coconut oil is really ok or not.

Referring back to my previous post, I should not have said "we ate healthier" because these are all very health-minded tips for helping the elderly to gain weight. I only meant that I need to resist consuming the rich foods I'm preparing for my mother-in-law, who needs to gain weight, not me.

My husband became guardian of his skin-and-bones, toothless 90-year-old mother, and moved her here. She can't eat gluten and can only chew very soft foods. For six months I've fed her according to your great tips: creamy foods, smoothies, GF muffins and pasta, pancakes, eggs w/cheese. I'm spending twice as much time in the kitchen! (My husband is also happier). We ate far healthier before I started cooking for Nana! She's only gained two pounds, but I've gained ten! I know I've got to spend that extra time making salads and stir-fries, and grab fruit or veggie snacks instead of the rich snacks I now keep on hand. I need to take my portion from the pot before it's buttered & creamed. This tips do promote weight gain!

My Mom already has smoothies with Ensure and fruit. I like the idea of adding avocado. She recently suffered a mild stroke and hold her dentures in yet, so soft foods are all she can handle. Thank you for the advice.

When we say foods are high in calories, we think they must be unhealthy. We need at least some dietary fat for our hormones to function properly and to absorb minerals and vitamins. Doctors recommend not less than 15% fat from your diet.

That's all well and good ideas but the only things my mom will eat is junk foods like ice cream, chocolates ,potato chips etc