My 100-year-old aunt lives on her own and we believe she is eating well but she is losing weight. She drinks nutritional supplements but looking at what's best with different brands higher protein seems to be less calories.
I'd ask her doctor which he thinks would be more useful in her case.
I'll add a warning, too -- my mother developed gout from drinking those supplements because there was so much sugar in it. Be careful about giving her too many of the sugar-loaded ones.
At 100, if activity is decreased markedly, there may be some wasting of bones, tendons, muscles and body weight. It takes, quite honestly, very little to keep our elders going. Anyone who has sat with an elder withdrawn from food and fluid can attest to that; even small amounts sustain. You might add one multivit daily, but these absorb poorly compared to real food. Balance the diet as you would for anyone, so much as you are able. And at 100 we should surely be able to eat what we like and as much or as little of it as we like, if we can tolerate it.
I think you/she would be better off focusing on nutrient dense real foods. Boost and ensure etc can be a double edged sword, if she is using them in place of regular meals she could be getting fewer calories and a less balanced diet - they really should be used as extra calories or for those who can't eat enough real food. There are tons of threads talking about how to add calories.
I agree that her doctor should be consulted. There can be many reasons a person is losing weight. Since she is living alone are you 100 % sure she is eating well? Or is someone there at each of her meals? At 100 and you do not give any indication that there are any medical issues (at 100 I am sure there are some though) If she is well and functioning God bless her and more power to her! You do know she is not going to live forever. There is a very good chance her body is slowly shutting down. If she is not real active she is not burning a lot of calories. He body is using all it takes in to keep the head, heart and other organs functioning. As far as her body is concerned that is all that matters. Keeping weight on is not a priority. If she is not taking in more calories than she needs her body will use stored fat then muscle to keep going. This is all normal. At some point to provide more than what she needs can be a problem, the body does not have the energy to digest and store what remains. Discuss with her doctor what the best course of action is.
Thank you! She takes no medication - zero lol She walks her 18 foot balcony daily regardless of weather! Canadian winters lol. We support her with grocery shopping, but not often with her for meals but it seems she is eating. She enjoys her nutritional supplements but with her losing weight wondered if another brand with protein would be better but they are lower in calories. She doesn't have a regular doctor but we are trying to convince her to get some advice from Dr or nutritionist but she knows good nutrition even through her memory/cognitive aptitude does seem to have diminished over the past few years - COVID has been hard for most of us!
WOW! How amazing that your 100 year old aunt still lives on her own. I want to be just like her(living on my own that is)if I am blessed to live that long. You must keep in mind though that she is 100 years old and more than likely doesn't have that much time left here on this earth, so unless one of you want to move in to make sure she is getting 3 square meals a day or move her to a facility where she will be given 3 meals a day, I'm not sure it really matters what kind of supplements she's drinking or not drinking at this point in her life as she's earned the right to eat or not eat whatever she darn well pleases. One of the ladies in my caregiver support groups mom lived to be well over 100 and lived on ice-cream and cashews for the last 5 years of her life. Now that sounds like a really good diet to go out with doesn't it?
This was my mom. She was never overweight, but got skinnier and skinnier as she aged. Some older people are like this. She barely weighed anything when she died. A skeleton with flesh on it.
At 100, geeeeeez, let her eat whatever she likes. She deserves it!
My cousin just turned 100 and she is a size 2. She’s tiny like my mom was.
Your aunt probably doesn’t have a big appetite. My mom only ate a bite here and there. She would say that she only ate because she knew that she had to. She wasn’t hungry.
They lose muscle mass and with that weight. Ensure and boost are to suppliment a diet. But my daughter will tell you those little old ladies in her NH can live off of 3 ensures a day.
One thing that I find unappetizing is a large amount of food in front of me.
Try portioning out a small amount of food. If I look at a big plate of food, I automatically think that I won’t be able to finish it. I eat off of lunch sized plates.
Some dinner plates look like platters! It’s too much food to eat at one time.
You know it just occurred to me that it doesn't have to be a choice between buying supplements with more calories vs more protein, you can get some of each!
My 103-yr old Aunt has toast/butter and coffee (with milk) for every breakfast. Lunch is a "dinner" (old-school Italian) so maybe pasta or non-red meat and vegetable. Supper is lighter, maybe a soup or hard cheese/nuts/fruit or salami. Sometimes she'll have a 70% cacao piece of chocolate or a cookie for dessert. She doesn't eat a lot, no snacks during the day. When I was down to visit recently someone brought her a hot pastrami sandwich (1/2) from TooJay's in Vero Beach and she wolfed it down like it was the last meal she'd ever eat!
At advanced ages we lose muscle mass no matter what we do (sarcopenia) -- unless we do weigh-bearing exercise regularly -- and then we don't build muscle, we mostly can only maintain what we had. I say let your LO eat whatever she wants.
Order her something delicious to be delivered to her home once a week (or twice a week). It doesn't have to be huge, a sandwich or soup. A nice change of pace may get her to eat a bit more. But elderly people, especially very, very elderly people tend to lose mass over time. She's 100, let her eat/drink what she wants. How about having one high-calorie drink and one lower-calorie, high-protein drink a day?
Research has shown that a nutrient balanced diet always trumps one based on calorie count. Studies have shown that diets solely based on calorie count can actually lead to malnutrition. This is why it's important you know about the essential nutrients your body needs. It’s National Nutrition Week, a good time to revisit some of the myths surrounding diet and weight loss. Let’s take a look at the concept of a calorie deficit, for instance. We’ve all been told that to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than you burn. However, this is not entirely true. If someone that is completely inactive reduces their calorie intake in order to create a calorie deficit, their nutritional needs cannot be met. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss, leading to new health problems. That said, it is important to keep an eye on your calorie intake, and maintain it as per your physical activity levels in order to lose weight. Matilda
My 90 year old mother in law complains she can't taste her food - I know eldery persons lose tastebuds. Let her eat what she wants but encourage a good variety.
My Mom liked to make ice cream shakes with her Ensure. Lots of calories with fat & protein added. Get the full-fat ice cream. Also soft nuts are a good source of calories if she likes them, but watch the salt. Walnuts, cashews, pecans are tasty. So is peanut butter. P.S. gout isn't caused by sugar, it's caused from too much protein. Your Mom's diet would depend on what her limitations are: Can she chew? Does she have diabetes? Liver problems? Ask her doctor.
If her kidneys are healthy and no diabetes she should lean to the protein side of a balanced diet. that being said, Ensure et al shouldn’t be her mainstay meal. She needs fresh veggies and some fruit. At 100 the effort to prepare and clean up may seem daunting. Maybe you could prepare some small meals and freeze in take-out containers that she can pop in microwave. Label and date.
I just listened to a wonderful interview with Dr. John Scharffenberg. He is a nutritional Dr. turning 100 this year~! you may want to watch sometime and learn about nutrition for yourself and for your aunt. I find it fascinating that he continues to work at 100! He is Full of Energy ! He's on You tube.
Delusional: An elder's appetite is not what it was in their younger days. My mother ate very small portions of food. I.e. I once got her a 'bear claw' pastry from Panera Bread and she ate it on three separate meals. Since your aunt is 100 years of age, perhaps she can eat some whole foods - food that has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances.
This might help answer some of your concerns although I didn't find anything associated with someone approaching or 100 years old. My friend is nearing 90 and used to weigh around 170-180. He is now 135 lbs - and I bring him high calorie foods as much as possible.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Unexplained weight loss, or losing weight without trying — particularly if it's significant or ongoing — may be a sign of a medical disorder.
The point at which unexplained weight loss becomes a medical concern is not exact. But many health care providers agree that a medical evaluation is called for if you lose more than 5% of your weight in 6 to 12 months, especially if you're an older adult. For example, a 5% weight loss in someone who is 160 pounds (72 kilograms) is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms). In someone who is 200 pounds (90 kilograms), it's 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).
Your weight is affected by your calorie intake, activity level and overall health. Your ability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat also affects your weight. Economic and social factors also may play a role.
Abnormal Weight Loss. After the age of 65, it’s typically normal to lose 0.2 to 0.4 pounds of body weight every year. Unintentional weight loss can be dangerous if you lose 5% or more of your body weight every 6-12 months.
What Causes Weight Loss as You Age?
Reasons for weight loss. Many factors can contribute to your clothes fitting a little looser as you get older. Most of these are social, psychological, and medical reasons, including: 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.
Perhaps make a bullet / blender drink of bananas, protein powder, perhaps a fruit jam, and ice cream (and some juice or milk). I also add ginger root and garlic to mine. Gena / Touch Matters
In addition, why is a woman 100 years old living alone? ah... well . . . of course, I have a client/friend who is 103 and she lives alone. Still doesn't seem to be a good idea.
I think it is important to consider what your goal is here - to live longer? gain weight?
If she feels okay, let her be as she is.
Enjoy whatever moments (if not a year or longer) she has.
I say, let her put on the weight even if protein high(er) in calories... why not?
I'll add a warning, too -- my mother developed gout from drinking those supplements because there was so much sugar in it. Be careful about giving her too many of the sugar-loaded ones.
https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=adding+calories
There can be many reasons a person is losing weight.
Since she is living alone are you 100 % sure she is eating well? Or is someone there at each of her meals?
At 100 and you do not give any indication that there are any medical issues (at 100 I am sure there are some though) If she is well and functioning God bless her and more power to her!
You do know she is not going to live forever.
There is a very good chance her body is slowly shutting down.
If she is not real active she is not burning a lot of calories. He body is using all it takes in to keep the head, heart and other organs functioning. As far as her body is concerned that is all that matters. Keeping weight on is not a priority. If she is not taking in more calories than she needs her body will use stored fat then muscle to keep going. This is all normal. At some point to provide more than what she needs can be a problem, the body does not have the energy to digest and store what remains.
Discuss with her doctor what the best course of action is.
She takes no medication - zero lol
She walks her 18 foot balcony daily regardless of weather! Canadian winters lol. We support her with grocery shopping, but not often with her for meals but it seems she is eating. She enjoys her nutritional supplements but with her losing weight wondered if another brand with protein would be better but they are lower in calories. She doesn't have a regular doctor but we are trying to convince her to get some advice from Dr or nutritionist but she knows good nutrition even through her memory/cognitive aptitude does seem to have diminished over the past few years - COVID has been hard for most of us!
You must keep in mind though that she is 100 years old and more than likely doesn't have that much time left here on this earth, so unless one of you want to move in to make sure she is getting 3 square meals a day or move her to a facility where she will be given 3 meals a day, I'm not sure it really matters what kind of supplements she's drinking or not drinking at this point in her life as she's earned the right to eat or not eat whatever she darn well pleases.
One of the ladies in my caregiver support groups mom lived to be well over 100 and lived on ice-cream and cashews for the last 5 years of her life. Now that sounds like a really good diet to go out with doesn't it?
At 100, geeeeeez, let her eat whatever she likes. She deserves it!
My cousin just turned 100 and she is a size 2. She’s tiny like my mom was.
Your aunt probably doesn’t have a big appetite. My mom only ate a bite here and there. She would say that she only ate because she knew that she had to. She wasn’t hungry.
Try portioning out a small amount of food. If I look at a big plate of food, I automatically think that I won’t be able to finish it. I eat off of lunch sized plates.
Some dinner plates look like platters! It’s too much food to eat at one time.
At advanced ages we lose muscle mass no matter what we do (sarcopenia) -- unless we do weigh-bearing exercise regularly -- and then we don't build muscle, we mostly can only maintain what we had. I say let your LO eat whatever she wants.
I haven’t had a pastrami sandwich in years. I like pastrami and Swiss cheese on rye. Yummy 😋!
My husband’s great grandmother who lived to be just shy of 102 enjoyed a beer with lunch everyday.
She was a tiny woman who barely weighed 100 lbs. So cute and full of life. She had a great personality.
It’s National Nutrition Week, a good time to revisit some of the myths surrounding diet and weight loss. Let’s take a look at the concept of a calorie deficit, for instance. We’ve all been told that to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than you burn.
However, this is not entirely true. If someone that is completely inactive reduces their calorie intake in order to create a calorie deficit, their nutritional needs cannot be met. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss, leading to new health problems. That said, it is important to keep an eye on your calorie intake, and maintain it as per your physical activity levels in order to lose weight.
Matilda
calories with fat & protein added. Get the full-fat ice cream. Also soft nuts are a good source of calories if she likes them, but watch the salt. Walnuts, cashews, pecans are tasty. So is peanut butter. P.S. gout isn't caused by sugar, it's caused from too much protein. Your Mom's diet would depend on what her limitations are: Can she chew? Does she have diabetes? Liver problems? Ask her doctor.
that being said, Ensure et al shouldn’t be her mainstay meal. She needs fresh veggies and some fruit. At 100 the effort to prepare and clean up may seem daunting.
Maybe you could prepare some small meals and freeze in take-out containers that she can pop in microwave. Label and date.
love and light
He is a nutritional Dr. turning 100 this year~! you may want to watch sometime and learn about nutrition for yourself and for your aunt. I find it fascinating that he continues to work at 100! He is Full of Energy ! He's on You tube.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Unexplained weight loss, or losing weight without trying — particularly if it's significant or ongoing — may be a sign of a medical disorder.
The point at which unexplained weight loss becomes a medical concern is not exact. But many health care providers agree that a medical evaluation is called for if you lose more than 5% of your weight in 6 to 12 months, especially if you're an older adult. For example, a 5% weight loss in someone who is 160 pounds (72 kilograms) is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms). In someone who is 200 pounds (90 kilograms), it's 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).
Your weight is affected by your calorie intake, activity level and overall health. Your ability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat also affects your weight. Economic and social factors also may play a role.
Abnormal Weight Loss. After the age of 65, it’s typically normal to lose 0.2 to 0.4 pounds of body weight every year. Unintentional weight loss can be dangerous if you lose 5% or more of your body weight every 6-12 months.
What Causes Weight Loss as You Age?
Reasons for weight loss. Many factors can contribute to your clothes fitting a little looser as you get older. Most of these are social, psychological, and medical reasons, including:
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.
Perhaps make a bullet / blender drink of bananas, protein powder, perhaps a fruit jam, and ice cream (and some juice or milk). I also add ginger root and garlic to mine.
Gena / Touch Matters
Still doesn't seem to be a good idea.
I think it is important to consider what your goal is here - to live longer? gain weight?
If she feels okay, let her be as she is.
Enjoy whatever moments (if not a year or longer) she has.
I say, let her put on the weight even if protein high(er) in calories... why not?
Gena / Touch Matters