How to enhance appetite of stroke patient who continues to have difficulty swallowing (food is mechanical chopped or soft)?

I would say start looking for another doctor. A doctor who understands what happens to us as we get older. I do not remember what those doctors are called. When my mother was still living she always like sweet foods. If I made it sweet she ate it. That may work for you. Another idea, get a blender that makes baby food. How is his/her teeth?

I have found that many post-stroke patients have a loss of appetite. When asked it’s simply that nothing appeals to them enough to eat.
Just as many post stroke patients say their sense of taste is different and thus they don’t like the same foods they *loved* before the stroke. From my experience as a HC RN I think tastebuds are effected by a stroke due to injury to the part of the brain that controls food appeal.

This is a really hard for caregivers as the CG feel so helpless because the patient just can’t eat what was lovingly prepared by their spouse even though it was their favorite food prior to the stroke. . The person almost always loses weight and it gets alarming. Nutrition is important for a recovering CVA. Food is Love, and when that love is refused the CG can get their feelings hurt.

I recommend you continue offering the supplement and keep trying different foods to see what works. Can she swallow protein shakes? There are also prescription protein “shots” (taken orally)- ASO her neurologist.

I also think you and she may benefit from a nutritional consult with a local dietician. They can help with good suggestions.m

Speech therapy can help too. ST are resourceful.

Notify her neurologist if she stops eating and drinking and if you find her ability to swallow has changed. This would be to prevent aspiration pneumonia.

Good luck to you!

My mom very rarely expressed any desire for food, she ate to please me and to "keep her strength up", it is surprising how little calories people can live on when they are elderly and sedentary, mom's doctor was satisfied if we managed to get 1000 calories a day. Think of all those weight loss strategies you've heard and do the opposite - add butter and cheese, offer high calorie snacks and drinks, cookies, cakes, potato chips, ice cream. Many tiny snacks are probably better than trying to get him to eat a meal.

Sometimes lack of appetite can lead to outright refusal to eat and this can be a sign that they are nearing the end of life, I always tried to keep that in mind and I resolved that although I might try my best to provide tempting food I would never coerce my mom to eat.

Sometimes an antidepressant can be helpful.