Dealing with a loss of appetite in older adults

Written by Paola Labib • 10/10/25

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Care at Home for the Elderly: A Guide for Caregivers

Poor appetite is common in older people living at home and in care homes. It’s often influenced by a combination of factors, including chronic health conditions, medications, and mental well-being. This condition can lead to unintentional weight loss, malnutrition, and frailty.

This guide helps caregivers and loved ones understand the common causes of poor appetite and provides practical, effective strategies for encouraging better eating routines.

If your loved one is struggling with difficulties in eating and experiencing unintentional weight loss, it’s essential to consult a health professional immediately to rule out underlying causes and get guidance on improving appetite and weight gain.

What can cause an older adult to lose their appetite?

Poor appetite is highly prevalent in older people and can result from various factors, from normal physiological changes to underlying illness. Understanding the cause is the first step towards finding a solution.

Age-related and medical causes

As we age, our bodies undergo several natural physiological changes that can impact how and when we feel like eating:

  • Slower digestion: Older individuals may experience slower gastric emptying, meaning food sits in the stomach for longer. This prolonged retention can cause people to feel fuller sooner and for a longer time, decreasing appetite. Conditions like constipation also contribute to this feeling of fullness.

  • Changes in taste and smell: Impairments in taste, smell, and vision can diminish the enjoyment of food. Someone may suddenly lose interest in their favourite meals, making it difficult to find a satisfying replacement.

  • Medication side effects: Older adults often take multiple prescription medications. Many of these drugs can cause side effects like nausea, dry mouth, or altered taste, which drastically reduce the desire to eat.

  • Dry mouth: Reduced saliva production can cause dry mouth, making chewing and swallowing difficult or painful. While not a typical part of natural aging, it is often a side effect of medication, wearing dentures, or poor oral health.

  • Chronic illness: Conditions such as thyroid disorders, heart disease, stroke, or an undiagnosed illness can all suppress appetite.

Psychological and social factors

Eating is an inherently social activity. Changes in environment and mental health can significantly affect an older person’s motivation to eat:

  • Loneliness and depression: Depression, anxiety, and loneliness are common among older adults and are major contributors to decreased appetite. Eating alone is generally less enjoyable.

  • Lack of motivation: Older individuals who live alone or struggle with shopping and cooking independently may be less motivated to prepare and consume meals.

  • Major life changes: Moving into a care home, or dealing with financial changes after retirement, are additional stresses that can impact an individual’s desire to eat.

What can help stimulate an older person’s appetite?

Once any underlying medical conditions or medication issues have been addressed by a healthcare professional, these strategies can help encourage better eating habits.

1. Combine smaller portions with high nutritional content

An overwhelming amount of food is unappealing to someone with a diminished appetite. Instead of three large meals, try offering four to five smaller meals or snacks throughout the day. Crucially, these smaller meals must be nutrient-dense and calorie-rich to ensure adequate daily intake.

  • Boost calorie content: When your loved one can eat a meal, increase its energy density. Incorporate ingredients high in calories, such as butter, whole milk, olive oil, or nut butters. For example, stir a tablespoon of olive oil into mashed vegetables or add cream to a soup.

  • Focus on protein: Include sources like eggs, poultry, Greek yogurt, and legumes in every small meal to maintain muscle mass.

2. Keep to a regular daily routine

A consistent routine for meals and snacks can help the body’s internal clock and restore an older person’s hunger cues. Serve meals and snacks at regular, predictable intervals each day. This consistency removes the need for the individual to remember when they last ate and helps prevent lengthy gaps without nutrition.

3. Make mealtime a social and enjoyable activity

Research suggests that eating alone is correlated with a decreased appetite. Creating an enjoyable dining experience can shift the focus from the act of eating to the social interaction.

  • Dine together: Invite family or friends to join for meals.

  • Create atmosphere: Play soft music or engage in a relaxed conversation to enhance the dining experience.

  • Use favourite foods: The most obvious, yet most effective, solution is to offer favourite foods more often. Individuals consume more food when they are allowed to select meals they genuinely enjoy.

4. Use finger foods and soft options

Health conditions like Parkinson’s, arthritis, or dementia can make using utensils a challenge, even if the person isn’t struggling with a lack of appetite.

  • Finger foods: Offer easy-to-manage options like cut-up fish or chicken strips, cheese cubes, or sticks of raw or steamed vegetables (carrots, peppers).

  • Soups and smoothies: Soft and liquid foods are suitable alternatives for those with difficulty chewing. Nutritious soups can be easily prepared by puréeing meat and vegetables, and their nutritional value can be increased by adding cream or olive oil. Smoothies made with fruit, vegetables, and full-fat yogurt are a simple, calorie-dense option.

Special considerations: difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

It is critical to recognise that the finger foods and liquid solutions mentioned above are unsuitable for individuals who have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).

Dysphagia is a severe condition, more common in older people, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia. It can be caused by various factors, including stroke, dementia, or weakened throat muscles.

Symptoms of dysphagia can include:

  • Choking or coughing while eating or drinking.

  • Drooling or wet, gurgly voice during or after a meal.

  • Complaining that food is “stuck” in the throat.


If your loved one displays any symptoms of dysphagia, you must talk to their GP immediately. They will likely refer you to a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) who can recommend medically safe food textures and liquid consistencies (e.g. thickened liquids) to prevent serious health risks.

When do I need to consult a doctor about loss of appetite?

While some decreased appetite is a part of aging, a sudden or significant change in eating habits should always prompt a medical consultation.

Seek medical advice if the poor appetite is unusual, sudden, or accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

  • Rapid, unintentional weight loss.

  • Prolonged fatigue or weakness.

  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

  • Digestive problems (such as abdominal pain or new onset constipation).

  • Loss of smell or taste that is not temporary.

  • Signs of difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).


It is always better to be cautious and seek professional guidance if you are in doubt about your loved one’s nutritional health.

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