Q: My 98-year-old father was way ahead of the times as his diet as early as I can recall was heavy on fish and fruit and he never ate much red meat and shunned heavy, fatty foods. He walked miles a day, long before that was considered a worthy form of exercise. His serious health issues have been rare, only having required a heart valve replacement/repair at age 95. At this time he was also implanted with a Pacemaker. Since the surgery, he seems to have lost considerable ability to taste food. He can still taste salty and sweet but that’s about it. He uses copious amounts of hot sauce and cayenne pepper on just about anything he eats. This all seems to play into his lack of interest in food in general, including fruit. He has started snacking on junk food such as chips, cookies and iced cream significantly more than he ever used to. We make certain that he does eat a proper diet in addition to the junk food.
As of about a year ago, he would say he has lost a lot of steam and sleeps too much, often napping in his kitchen chair. He is still mobile without assistance and, in fact, still holds a valid driver’s license and continues to drive occasionally. On one hand I think his radical diet change with all the added junk food and sugar may be playing into his ongoing tiredness and lack of energy. But on the other hand I think, “Hey, he’s 98 years old and it’s not going to hurt him at this point.” I’d appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you.
A: Your father is a testament to what a good diet and regular exercise can do for longevity, although I’m sure that to some extent good genes play a role in his health as well. While I agree with both your conclusions that your father’s recent dietary changes are likely responsible for his lack of energy and fatigue, as well as that at 98 years old he should be able to eat what he pleases, I would like to see that he still maintain a quality of life.
Heart valve replacement, repair and pacemaker implantation, although common these days, are still major surgeries. Your father was 95 when he underwent the procedures which means that his body wasn’t as capable of recovering as would that of a younger person. Anesthesia can also carry many side effects to include a loss of taste and smell; however, these are usually temporary. Given that this has been going on for at least three years, there is little hope that his sense of taste will return to normal. That said, there are some things that you can try to get your father back on track with his diet while still allowing him to indulge in some of the junk food he has come to enjoy.
First, you mentioned that he has always consumed fruit and that he still maintains his sense of sweet taste. You can work this to your advantage by adding more sweet fruits to his diet such as peaches, prunes, dried apricots and strawberries. Fruits with lower sugar contents may not be as appealing, but you can still encourage him to eat them, such as a topping on a bowl of iced cream or frozen yogurt, perhaps even with a few chops nuts as well. As for vegetables, you can try tempting him with things such as baked acorn squash with a little brown sugar sprinkled on top or sweet potato fries with a little cinnamon sugar. A peanut butter and honey, banana or apple sandwich is a simple, yet delicious option for lunch time. If he enjoys spicy foods, try making a fresh mango salsa to serve over broiled fish or chicken. Don’t forget to make the food look as appealing as possible, as we eat as much with our eyes as we do with our mouths.
As for beverages, you can also try fruit and yogurt smoothies with added protein powder for days he’s not interested in eating as much. These are both nutritious (ensuring he gets adequate calories for good health) and sweet (ensuring that he can taste and, hopefully, enjoy it). If your father enjoys carbonated beverages, try mixing Sprite, club soda, or ginger ale with a fruit juice such as apple, orange or even a 100% fruit juice punch. This reduces the amount of simple sugar he’s consuming while also providing a serving of fruit.
As for your father’s napping, this, in part, is likely from his heart surgery as well as his age and diet. Try to get him up and moving several times a day and don’t allow him to nap for too long, especially if he experiences trouble sleeping at night. Allow him to rest for a short while once or twice during the day if he finds he needs to, but otherwise, try to keep him engaged in other activities such as walking, gardening, cards, or outings. You should also bring your concerns to his physician so that a full blood work up can be ordered to determine if he has an underlying thyroid problem or vitamin or mineral deficiency that may be playing a role, although with a proper diet this is not likely. Another possibility, depression, can also present with lack of interest, increased napping and fatigue.
And, finally, don’t fret too much. You father is 98 and in otherwise good health. He’s had a full life and is still miles ahead of most other oldsters his age. Enjoy your time together and learn his secrets to health and longevity so that you, too, can live to be as happy and healthy as he appears to be.
