The elderly can be drastically impacted when suffering from depression. One of the major things that can happen during depression is loss of appetite. Depression can cause mood swings, sadness with no cause, lack of interest, and feelings of hopelessness. Every person, senior or younger, deals with depression differently. This can include a lack of appetite. Companion care at home may help a senior feel less lonely and help keep them on a structured routine.
Companion care at home can help keep an eye on symptoms and even help a senior go to and from doctors or therapy appointments. They can learn what activities may help lessen depression and find ways for seniors to eat more.
There are several ways that depression can affect the loss of appetite. Companion care at home may help lessen the feelings of depression and boost eating habits. If the feelings don’t go away, it may be time for the senior to get other professional help outside of the caregiver.
How Can Depression Affect a Seniors' Appetite?
The truth is loss of appetite can happen for many different reasons. It could be a result of underlying health conditions, or it could be that the senior has lost their taste. There are a lot of reasons why isolated seniors may go through bouts of depression. The good news is with the right support system, these feelings can be minimized. Taking care of your seniors is important, and companion care at home should be a tool that is utilized for seniors who want to age in place.
Loss of appetite may happen because a senior can no longer find the energy to cook. There is a huge connection between fatigue and depression that can be hard to combat alone. This happens to more than just seniors; it can happen to anyone with depression or recovering from depression.
A senior who struggles with depression may no longer like to prepare food. This may once have been a wonderful activity for them. They may have experimented with recipes, but the older they get, the harder it is to taste and find enjoyment in their food. Companion care at home can help prepare them light meals with bold flavors that may spark a senior's interest.
Lastly, the senior may want food but find nothing they want to eat and become too irritable. Lack of interest in food can be a huge way seniors lose their appetite. When nothing sounds good, companion care at home can encourage small healthy snacks rather than one big meal. Small snacking with calorie-dense foods can be just as good as one large meal.
Depression among seniors is often overlooked, but it can be painful for a person to go through alone. There are ways to help, and companion care at home can limit the feelings of being alone. The family can help encourage appetite by eating family dinners and finding fun ways to eat more.
If you or a loved one are looking for experienced Companion Care at Home in McLean, VA, contact SenCura at 703-880-2547. Providing in-home senior care in Northern Virginia.
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