How much does skipping meals/not eating much affect the elderly? Relative did much better with three meals delivered.

The first place that a dip in glucose is felt (or not realized) is the brain. Alz & Neuro like diseases are often referred to as type 3 diabetes. Breakfast is just that, breaking the fast while sleeping. It is a challenge to keep my seniors glucose/blood sugar on a even level as we do not eat as much or as often as a person that is more active thus requiring the fuel for energy. However, I see the change cognitively and or by attitude/mood in the slightest dip and strive to avoid the dip. There was even a Snickers commercial where a person became “Hangry” and it is so very true. It could verrrrrry well be that your relative’s attitude IS due to skipping breakfast. I use all the tricks to keep a steady flow of “brain fuel” every two hours or a bit less. It just helps to make a better quality of day I think. And that is honestly all that I can hope for, daily quality with the time that is left.

I think the key is getting a good breakfast. My 91 yo mom eats 2 meals daily: breakfast & supper. Her breakfast is: fruit, 1 egg/bacon and either toast or oatmeal. Breakfast makes the biggest difference in her well-being IMO and she takes most of her meds at breakfast (the rest she takes at supper). If she’s feeling hungry mid-day, she eats some cheese.

If your relative can only afford to pay for 2 meals, breakfast should probably be one.

After Mom moved to AL and was required to eat all meals in the dining room her health and weight improved.

Imho, as the saying goes "Eat breakfast like a king, eat lunch like a prince and eat dinner like a pauper," that said, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Three meals a day is best for your 90+ year old relative.

Follow your intuition.

Can she order delivered breakfast like during Covid?

if she takes medication in the morning, it is even more important to have breakfast.

Can she afford to pay for 3 meals (is that offered) and get breakfast delivered? If you're seeing a difference, it's worth a try. Otherwise, if she had smoothies in her fridge, or Ensure, would she have them?

As a newly retired Nutrition counselor for the geriatric nursing home population I can tell you poor nutrition adversely affects the elderly! My own mom…who lived in an independent apartment setting with 3 meals daily in a dining room…failed during Covid room lockdown…meals brought to her apartment were useless…she actually had a mental break and ended up in a memory care due to throwing the delivered foods away. She lost 15# in 8 weeks. She lost her ability to walk without falls. It took 8 months for her to regain weight and strength and now lives in an assisted living for closer monitoring of daily activities {she is 87}…If an elderly person loses 5% of their normal weight in 30 days or 10% loss in 6 months this can severely affect them…mental abilities will decline and irritability may occur.. I always started a liquid supplement between meals…even 4 ounces twice a day can help..like Ensure or even Carnation Instant breakfast mixed with whole milk..offer pudding snacks…ice cream even..Breakfast for most elderly is the best accepted meal..I advise she has breakfast in the dining room. They consume more when they eat in a social environment ..Good Luck!

I experienced a similar situation with my dad.

Eating nutritional meals, at the same time daily and getting his meds as needed was a life changer for him.

I think that the regular socialization helped a great deal as well.

Yes! Having regular meals helps to keep her blood sugar balanced and provide needed nutrients. Talk with her about having all her meals in the dining room.

I saw my mom’s appetite change over the years. She was never a ‘big’ eater but she ate adequately. In her final years of life she claimed that she never felt hungry. I asked her about it. She told me that she ate only because she knew that she had to.

My mom was skin and bones when she died. Some people get old and super skinny. She liked food but didn’t have much of an appetite. I cooked all of her favorite dishes for her. She couldn’t gain weight even though she tried to. She loved ice cream but even though she ate ice cream weekly she didn’t gain an ounce.

Here's a thought... could it be the concept of 'communal dining' doesn't appeal to her (not a 'people' person?) and the personal service received during covid allowed her to eat in peace and at her own pace? She may simply have felt more comfortable. I know I'm not a fan of eating in public - makes me all tense so I can't enjoy my meal!

Would she drink a breakfast smoothie with her coffee? There are some pretty decent ones available in cans and cartons- shake ‘em up, pop ‘em into a glass, fueled until lunch?

Your suspicions could be spot on.

Is it possible to 'add on' assisted living services? If so, having an Aide pop in to prompt breakfast every day would be ideal.