My 90yr old mother is currently in the hospital recovering from bronchitis. She is in this weird place and refuses to eat. I have tried to coach her on how important nutrition is for her to get well but she just yells at me. I even have asked if there is any special food she wants. Any suggestions on how to approach this?
Thanks!
Try offering your mother anything you know she likes because even if it isn't nutritious at least its getting calories into her. Also, one thing at a time might be more appealing than a tray full of food. My mother was very put off (and actually very upset) when a lot of food was put in front of her. She was more likely to eat something if she was not overwhelmed with volume and choices.
Mom lived to be 101 and the last few years in AL she lived on yogurt, cookies, Ensure and sweets. There was nothing we could do to get her to eat even half of her meals. But the ability to taste sweet things remains and is different than the sense of smell and taste. The nursing home offered her good food, which she wouldn't eat so they gave her fortified puddings. ice cream and sugary drinks.