Taste, Smell, and Anorexia in the Aged: What Can We Do To Help the Patients? An Initial Primer

Abstract

What is the etiology of anorexia in the aged? Can it be corrected? How is this accomplished? These questions reflect a complex set of phenomena made more complex since there is no standard formula to either define or correct anorexia. There is also no established group of physicians or other caretakers to whom to turn for help to evaluate or treat these problems. This leaves you with the difficult task of offering advice to others who are called upon to deal with these issues but who may feel insecure in their knowledge about caring for anorexia of the elderly or nursing home residents. This may place you in a difficult diagnostic as well as therapeutic quandary. You may be forced to be the leaders to evaluate anorexia and to assist in overcoming its multiple clinical consequences. This paper will attempt to inform you of some helpful strategies which may be effective in assisting you to evaluate and treat one aspect of the complex phenomena which affects the many patients with anorexia.