Mother has always been a small eater!
Many older people commonly proudly exclaim that they have always been a “small eater” and wear this statement as a “badge of honour”.
Undereating is a very great risk to the older person’s health.
Malnutrition from undereating is one of the commonest causes for falls, infections, confusion and acute public hospital Emergency Department presentations for the elderly.
Many older women have grown up with the concept through womens’ magazines and accepted attitudes in society that being thin is good. Delusions about skinny body figure and weight loss even occur in older people.
Obsessions about being thin, losing weight and eating very small meals may be the first sign of dementia.
Malnutrition is also worsened by families who lack insight into the nutritional requirement for frail older people.
Many families still believe it is okay not to eat much as you get older. In fact they think it is a normal part of “ageing” which is completely wrong!
For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.