Dad lost at least 50 pds. quick. Tried everything for over a year but hes getting weaker. He shuffles his feet when he walks, has an upset stomach all the time. Therefore he's starting to spend alot of time in bed. He's not giving up he just has no energy. Theres nothing left but bones. After his second bout of pnemonia in over a year and hospitalization he doesn't feel like bathing, he waits for me to prepare meals instead of getting out. He goes from chair to bed, and maybe mailbox and coffee pot. My question is, should i do more to keep him walkimg even though hes so frail and could fall. Or just leave him be, he doesnt seem unhappy or depressed. Just weak and always a stomach ache.
DO keep him walking if at all possible - laying in bed easier short term, but causes body pain quickly, not to mention weakness & care issues.
I'm sure you've tried all kinds of things, but these are all the things I can think to suggest in random order;
Food;
Ice cream -- if you can, spring for the good stuff - Hagen Das has 270 calories per serving, and its all "food" - - cream, sugar, egg yolks. Not great for those of us who DON'T need weight, but easy to eat for those who need some extra.
Concentrated nutrition -- mal-absorbtion sounds right, though only eating 1/3 of normal not good.-
Maybe gut bacteria out of whack? If you haven't already, add some yogurt, kefir, "live" saurkraut, those little yakullt bottles, anything that might repopulate the intestine with good bacteria (yougurt can be 1 Tbsp 3x day - doesn't need to be much if he doesn't like it). Amazing how many docs forget to mention this after antibiotic treatment (but VETS remember - crazy!)
Daily multivitamin & especially vitamin D & B-complex (some people swear by b-12 injections -- might be worth a try, as b-deficiency is common. Not much to lose, and it IS hard for the elderly to absorb from diet - heck the placebo effect alone might be worth it).
Frequent snacking with some redeeming nutrition - if it's peanut butter on crackers, etc in small amounts it might go down OK.
Add butter or oil if his stomach will tolerate it --
Beer, if he likes it & no reason not to (odd, but has calories )
"bikeless" exercise bike -- these just have the pedals with a stand-- small, sit down on regular chair & pedal. The kids can have fun taking turns too -- cheap.
About sleeping in on mornings... My mother tends to do that now. She's in such pain, between her colon cancer and her sciatica pain, I let her sleep in a and I serve her coffee and breakfast inside her room and she eats and then has the strength to shower and go on about her day. But I would definitely let them sleep in. They're tired, they're in pain............ but make sure that they eat and get up and outside if it's nice out just to get some air.
Good luck with everything!
My mom benefited from some very simple exercises shown to us by a physical therapist, and of course uses a walker. I wish I had some advice about his stomach issues, it is frustrating when doctors can't put a name to the problem.