Thread: Grandpa Needs to Gain Weight....Ideas?

Google "weight gainers". The high range of these is over 600cals per serving. Fat and protein varies greatly because it depends on your needs. I'm not sure the correct range for this situation. You may want to ask a nutritionist about ideal protein and fat grams in the diet since getting these too high could cause stress on internal organs which is potentially bad for the elderly. A risk with all meal replacement or supplement shakes. Near the top of the google results will be a bodybuilding supply store that's a good source for things like that and has articles, comparisons, reviews, and polls about the products to help you pick the right one for your needs. There is also another nutrition site I use for such things if you want it but you have to do independent research since they only provide what information the manufacturer gives them and a pretty slow forum.

When he was at home my mom aunts and grandma made sure he snacked alot. He was basically sedentary and was snacking and drinking fluids regularly. He was not at all overweight, has a fast metabolism. But now, he doesn't get routine snacks nor drinks unless it's meal time and isn't eating much of his meals (he spent 60 years getting grandma's cooking....I expect that nothing compares, plus the workers don't make sure he has his dentures in, therefore eating can be difficult I'm sure). This in addition to his increased mobility, he's just not getting near the calories he needs. I will check into a nutrition store, I tried to find somethings online but found nothing any more high calorie than Ensure Plus. Thanks for your helpful response!

Is there any high calorie food that he likes and he can handle? Is he digesting food good? Can you give him most any type of food per the regulations? There is plenty of high calorie food, just look at all the super sized people. LOL he needs to gain weight, not murder himself!

Good question though, how's his eating/digestion in general? Can he eat pretty much anything, but in smaller quantities?

He can eat pretty much anything as long as they make sure he has his dentures in. If we were closer, someone could be there daily to bring him a milkshake and other foods we know he enjoys. They don't have their own refrigerators so anything you bring that needs refrigeration has to be taken into the nurses station hospitality room and then you're depending on them to have the time to give it to him. He's very quiet, doesn't say much, complain etc....so I can see him being the type to sit there all day and say nothing no matter if he were hungry or not. He also doesn't like to put people out, so if someone says "Would you like me to bring you something to snack on?" he'd probably say "Oh no I'm fine". But if we were there, he'd eat it. I've told my mom to bring his weightloss up to the nutritionist on staff. They have to notice as it's alarmingly noticeable to us, and they are the ones that dress him and bathe him every day. Otherwise, the treatment there seems quiet well. The men are always very clean, the building is very clean, no yucky smells, etc. He's always well moisturized and groomed. But this weight thing.......... when my mom sent me pics of him last night I broke down in tears (and am about to typing this).

I have to figure out some way to keep his body from starving.