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anonymous1041983 Asked April 2020

What kind of food and nutrition support and therapy can be given to my grandmother's 99 yrs old friend?

My grandmother's friend is 99 yrs old, suffering from depression.


Her appetite isn’t good lately. Meal intake is inadequate.


She feeds herself.


Ht- 159 cm, Wt 48kgs, lost11kg in last 30 days.

geriatricRD Apr 2020
High calories foods- so she gets more calories per bite to stop the weight loss. Since she can't eat a lot due to poor appetite, try to maximize the calories in each bite. Here is an article that goes into detail:

https://www.thegeriatricdietitian.com/weight-gain-smoothies-stopping-unintended-weight-loss-in-older-adults/

JoAnn29 Apr 2020
Where are you from? Using the Metric system means your not in the US. We have members from the UK and Canada. Country Mouse, UK, maybe able to help.

Does this friend live with Gma? Do you have adult protection agencies? If so, I would have them come in to eval the woman's situation. She may need to be in a Care home. She could be dying. If u can, get her to her doctor.

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Grandma1954 Apr 2020
If this is a concern reporting the situation might help in getting someone to step in to help but...
This is a discussion your grandmothers friend should have with her doctor.
And it is possible that they have had this conversation.
You do not know, nor does your grandmother know if there is another medical reason for weight loss, poor appetite and depression. Is it possible that this friend has been diagnosed with a condition that she has chosen not to be treated for? (cancer, kidney failure or any number of things)

Or is it possible that this friend can not afford proper nutrition or is it possible that she can not get to the store? Is is possible that she is having memory problems and either does not know how to prepare a meal, or that she think she has already eaten. (common along with over eating with people with some forms of dementia)

cwillie Apr 2020
Ask the doctor about mirtazapine. Consider a supplement like boost/ensure. Although you must realize that at that age she may be less interested in food because she is nearing the end of life.

gladimhere Apr 2020
That sounds like something between the friend and her doctor to determine. It can vary widely.

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