Common Causes of Weight Loss in the Elderly

By Kevin Edwards | December 15, 2020 |

Has your elderly loved one been losing weight? Maybe at first they only lost a couple of pounds. However, now it may be more than that. You and their elderly care aide has are noticing how much weight they have lost. If this is the case, you should get to the bottom of why your elderly loved one is losing so much weight. Read more here today on the common causes of weight loss in the elderly.

Dementia

Elderly Care Overland Park KS - Common Causes of Weight Loss in the Elderly — Elderly Care Overland Park KS – Common Causes of Weight Loss in the Elderly

Dementia is one of the most common causes of weight loss in the elderly. If your elderly loved one has dementia and they are in the moderate to severe stages of the disease, they may experience more difficulties. Your elderly loved one might have trouble chewing and/or swallowing. They may be confused about what they are supposed to eat or when they are supposed to eat. These are some of the reasons why those with dementia often lose weight. Is this the case for your elderly loved one? If so, you or one of their elderly care aides may need to be there around mealtimes to make sure your loved one is eating.

There are some other health issues that may be causing your elderly loved one to lose weight, as well. Some of these health conditions are gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and endocrine disorders. If you believe that any of these things could be causing your elderly loved one’s weight loss, you should have them see their doctor.

Psychiatric Issues

There are also many psychiatric issues that could be causing your elderly loved one to lose weight. Research shows that with some psychiatric disorders, a person may not eat because of their symptoms. This is often the case with depression and anxiety. If your elderly loved one is feeling depressed or anxious, they may not care about eating. Sometimes, with anxiety, it may even make your elderly loved one physically sick to even think about food.

Financial or Transportation Issues

Your elderly loved one may also be facing financial or transportation issues. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have much money, they may not be buying enough food. In addition, if your elderly loved one doesn’t have a way to get groceries, they may be eating the bare minimum of what they have in their house. If you find out these are the causes of your elderly loved one’s weight loss, you can get caregivers to help out with the transportation. You can also see if your elderly loved one qualifies for assistance to pay for their food.

These are some of the common causes for weight loss in the elderly. If your elderly loved one has lost quite a bit of weight, be sure to figure out the cause. Once you do that, you and their elderly care providers can help your elderly loved one to get and keep their weight at a healthy level.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050948/

If you or an aging loved-one are considering Eldery Care Services in the Overland Park KS area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City, today. Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass Counties in Missouri as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years. Call us at 816-333-3322.

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Kevin Edwards

Owner at Elder Care of Kansas City

Kevin’s life and the lives of his immediate family have been impacted by caregivers – either as a patient or a caregiver - for as long as he can remember.He watched his mother take care of his grandmother until her death at the age of 97.Five years later, his father passed from a neurological disorder that was subsequently confirmed as Lewy Body Dementia.In 2007, his wife, Lori, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.The symptoms of Lori’s disease required Kevin to hire a caregiver during the periods of her relapses.

Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.

Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.