My mother (85) looks frail, has no appetite and no energy?

I gave my cat an appetite enhancer. I asked her doctor if he would prescribe one for Mother. The doctor told me to give her B12. It worked, but there is an appetite enhancer that is available if all else fails.

She may have lost her olfactory sense. You're going to have to think outside the box to get nutrition into her.

You need to discuss this directly with her doctor(s), NOW. There needs to be more communication with you so you know the reasons for each treatment and its side effects. Don't change any treatments without her doctors approval. Get the facts and you will see how easy it is to make and be comfortable with your decisions.

Meant to add that mum has her meal replacement with a thickener added (dr and speech pathologist recommendation)as she has swallowing difficulties.

Check her B12 and general B vitamin and electrolite balance.

Prayers for your mother, and blessings to you! As caregivers, we all know on this site how difficult it can be to balance it all. If their is a "real" balance, but I think we find our own individual normal, and roll with it. I think the meal replacement suggestion is an excellent idea. When my mom needed the extra nutrition & boost of vitamins we got her the Ensure shakes (any grocery store or Walmart) carries them, and rather inexpensive. Maybe $8 for six pack. It will be a great way to get her to have something with plenty of vitamins. Keeping you both in my prayers:-) Love & Light!

Hi, debrathigpen

Your mother may be depressed. This is one of the most prevalent side effects of illnesses for the elderly. Frequently, misunderstood and ignored or mislabeled by those in the medical field.

It is important to have a correct diagnosis when treating those with a new affection. One of the best ways to treat this generation is to take them is to take them to a gerontologist. This specialist is trained in recognizing and treating illness in our elderly. This person can diagnosis if most common illnesses including depression, vitamin deficiency and overly medicated. All three of these diagnoses can be easily treated and without any new medical procedures.

In our country it is presumed good treatment will involve a new medication and treatment. This does not have to be the correct treatment. Asking questions of elderly patients and getting a good medical history, thus enabling the possibility of a more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Does she have trouble swallowing? My mother barely ate when she went into the nursing home. They gave her regular food, which usually didn't want. But they fed her supplements of thickened liquids and told me some seniors choke on plain liquids. I was amazed at the number of products that had high caloric and nutrient content, especially for seniors who don't eat. There was juice, milk, water, pudding and ice cream, etc. They were a grade up from Ensure, etc, smaller quantities and tasted better. I don't know where you can get that, but maybe your mother would be more apt to take nourishment in the form of thickened liquids she did not have to chew because they go down easily.

I don't know what a "grana" stroke is, but the med she is on could decrease her appetite and/or she is suffering from clinical depression. Get a handle on this soon so she will not deteriorate any farther. Stents are having a problem due to design, malfunctioning, so that might be the reason the doctor put her on a med.

My mum has little appetite. Her cardiologist suggested a meal replacement twice a day. It's brilliant. She has two a day. The GP says she gets everything she needs from that so stop stressing. I mix it in milk and give her a straw and put it in a nice glass and call it an iced coffee. She happily has two. There are heaps of different brands on the market here in Australia. It may help. Any food she has is a bonus. But really I'm lucky if she has more than a mouthful of two of food. Good luck it's very worrying.

Is there some reason her doctor wants to avoid a stent? I know that some patients have advanced directives that say they do not wish to have life saving procedures. Is this the reason she isn't having the procedure? I think they normally insert the stent with intravenous sedation.

Is she on Hospice? Does she have dementia? There are many factors that may be in play here, so I'm not sure what you asking. Maybe, more details would allow others to respond with some suggestions.