Re: Eating Disorder Common Among Elderly

Yes, between the atmosphere of the nursing home, and the terrible "food" they serve... the smell of medicine, industrial cleaners and "death" in the air... exercise might consist of strolling up and down the halls a few times, if that...
NO WONDER!!!!

On the other hand, some people really enjoy being in the nursing home, they enjoy the social interaction. My granddad broke his hip and was in a nursing home for a few months. He enjoyed it (the activities and the people).

It's common for old people to eat much less than a middle-aged adult. That's good - they don't need as much food. Especially if they aren't active.

I, too, would like to know the defining line between anorexia and just plain eating less in an appropriate sense for the aging adult. I think part of that would be the nutritional content in what they DO eat, as well as the rate of body wasting (typical versus accelerated, particularly muscle wasting).