Failure to Thrive in Elderly

[Anonymous]

My mom has become increasingly frail with shortness of breath and she is very deconditioned. She also has mild cognitive impairment. She lives in an assisted living facility where she receives physical therapy and treatment for anxiety and depression. Her doctor has tried to adjust her medicine and add in additional PT to try to get a better response, but she is declining. She has received extensive medical testing although we are looking at other options. Has anyone had any luck reversing this downward trend with their parents? She feels weak so she she stays in bed and then just becomes more deconditioned. Thank you for any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

How old is she?

[Anonymous]

OP here. 75. Her decline started during COVID with some falls which led us to place her in an assisted living. She did well for awhile, but is declining now.

[Anonymous]

No, unfortunately. My mother passed away after a year from failure to thrive.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry Op. I does not seem like anything's being missed, over looked.

[Anonymous]

Is she eating nutritious food? Does she have an appetite?

[Anonymous]

She may be suffering from depression. Can the facility arrange to give a screening?

[Anonymous]

Has she seen a pulmonologist?

[Anonymous]

Went through this with my dad. Turns out he had cancer that had been undetected. Didn't find the cancer until a week before he passed. He was 78. So sorry you are going through this.

[Anonymous]

OP - Remeron is a medication that can help increase one’s appetite s a side effect and is used as a mood stabilizer in the elderly if appropriate, too. Definitely get a mental health screening first from a geriatric focused clinician. Also speak to the nutritionist or dietician on staff to see if there is a liquid supplement you mom might benefit from even if you have to cover the cost.