If she prefers MacDonald's "food", she may not be accustomed to more healthy foods and may need to acclimate to it.
Does this rehab have a chef, or alternate menus? Some do, so she could at least hopefully get a burger and get her protein. I would also find out if there's a nutritionist and ask to speak with her/him, to see what alternate menus are available.
She also may eat more if (a) meals are served in a cafeteria and you take her there, staying with her while she eats, and (b) you visit her at meal time, just to be there.
The other possibility is that she's developing a swallowing disorder and chewing as well as swallowing has become a challenge.
Ask about adding a supplement to her diet, ensure compact offers "Complete, balanced nutrition in an easy-to-drink, 4-fl-oz serving 9 grams of high-quality protein per serving to help maintain muscle 26 essential vitamins and minerals 220 nutritious calories" but there are other brands that her rehab may prefer.
Short of visiting her twice a day during meal times to help her eat, there isn't a whole lot you can do about diminishing appetites in the elderly. You can bring her some of her favorite foods when you visit. I remember when my dad was in rehab & hating the food, we'd bring him BBQ ribs or Italian take out, just so he'd have something in his stomach besides an egg for breakfast. If your mom has a sweet tooth, as most elders do, you can bring her Boost shakes and let the staff know to give her 1 or 2 a day. You don't mention why she's in rehab.........but maybe she's not feeling good? Or having a reaction to a new medication *which my mother is THE QUEEN of*, so that's something to consider also.
As far as drinking goes, that's an even tougher issue. The Boost would help her get in liquids. When my mother was in rehab this past May, I'd go into the dining room & fill up her cup with juice or diet soda every time I visited. She hates drinking because it 'makes me pee' and she's wearing Depends, etc. So getting her to drink is an exercise in futility.
There's only so much we can do for them; the rest THEY have to do for themselves I'm afraid.
Thank you, he health has been diminishing for a while. A month ago she got down and my father took her to an ER, they sent her to another Hospital with Hypercalcimia. after they got her in a better place she was transferred to a rehab facility where she is now. That was 25 days ago. She will only eat a few bites of her favorite McDonalds foods. She obviously does better when on an IV of fluids.
Does this rehab have a chef, or alternate menus? Some do, so she could at least hopefully get a burger and get her protein. I would also find out if there's a nutritionist and ask to speak with her/him, to see what alternate menus are available.
She also may eat more if (a) meals are served in a cafeteria and you take her there, staying with her while she eats, and (b) you visit her at meal time, just to be there.
The other possibility is that she's developing a swallowing disorder and chewing as well as swallowing has become a challenge.
"Complete, balanced nutrition in an easy-to-drink, 4-fl-oz serving
9 grams of high-quality protein per serving to help maintain muscle
26 essential vitamins and minerals
220 nutritious calories"
but there are other brands that her rehab may prefer.
As far as drinking goes, that's an even tougher issue. The Boost would help her get in liquids. When my mother was in rehab this past May, I'd go into the dining room & fill up her cup with juice or diet soda every time I visited. She hates drinking because it 'makes me pee' and she's wearing Depends, etc. So getting her to drink is an exercise in futility.
There's only so much we can do for them; the rest THEY have to do for themselves I'm afraid.
Wishing you the best of luck!
after they got her in a better place she was transferred to a rehab facility where she is now. That was 25 days ago. She will only eat a few bites of her favorite McDonalds foods. She obviously does better when on an IV of fluids.