Is your caree losing too much weight?

Most of us would love to shed a few unwanted, extra pounds. However, for the elderly, extremely low body weight can be a serious health concern. But how do you, as a caregiver, monitor the weight of your caree and make sure it’s in the healthy range?

Determine if the weight loss is intentional

The first step in helping your caree reach a healthy weight is determining if their weight loss is intentional. Even if you or their doctor didn’t recommend going on a diet, that doesn’t mean they didn’t put themselves on one! Many older adults are still very much concerned with their health and appearance. Try gently asking outright if they’ve been trying to lose weight recently.

Take them to the doctor

If their weight loss is unintentional, the next step is a doctor’s appointment. A physician will be able to tell you if your caree is within a healthy weight range for their gender, age and height, as well as factoring in other health conditions.

Follow the treatment plan

If the doctor determines the caree’s weight to be below average, they’ll want to do testing to find out why. Depending on the answer, they may recommend medication, supplements or another form of treatment. It’ll be up to you and the caree to follow the treatment plan and pack on enough (healthy) pounds!