The FastDay Forum

hi- My 87 year old mother wants to know about fasting. She lives in a seniors residence where their meals are provided and she says she is packing on the weight. She has little control over what is served to her but she has a small kitchenette in her room with a fridge, sink and microwaves. She and my 93 yo father prepare their porridge each morning, make coffee and keep fresh fruit for their own consumption. Aside from some significant practical issues of them managing their calorie consumption does anyone know anything about fasting with an elderly person?? Neither are diabetic. My mother has had a small TIA with some memory problems but is otherwise well. Dad has some cardiac problems but otherwise good. They both walk each day and have good appetites. Any insights most welcome on anything here!

I really don't know- but I have avoided fasting around my 90 year old mother because I worry that she might find it too easy to skip meals - she is recently widowed and lives alone.She has no health problems or weight problems so for her it would be a bad idea.
Can your mother not simply skip desserts and some of the more calorific 'treats'.

hi merlin- from the sounds of it she is already avoiding the obvious problem foods (she was always a great cook and fed us whole foods for years before it was widely adopted). Doesn't eat the desserts and has her food without all the creamy sauces. I have been talking just now to my sister, their primary carer aside from the residence. We have agreed that perhaps fasting is abit much but that they could do more to avoid sugars like juice and have some more light meals in their unit.

That sounds like a good plan, especially if the carers are keeping an eye on them as well.

as izzy says the situation has probably been sorted or at least a plan is developing. It is however interesting in terms of what seniors are fed in facilities. My mom has queried the menu with the chef who defends all the creamy sauces and pre-packaged ingredients. He says that many of the residents need to be encouraged to eat and keep their weight on. I should clarify that these people are independent in their personal care, walk around and go to exercise classes. It is not a nursing home. My mom's observation is that most people could do with losing some weight and to stop eating whipped cream on their daily desserts! HA! Anyways I think that when the likes of us start hitting the seniors residences as customers- the delivery of meals is going to have to change. Fasters, vegans, vegetarians, coeliacs.... the list goes on.

not at all izzy- I understood what you meant. Yes I think proper fasting would be a bridge too far. Interesting area tho' don't you think? and yes food in institutions is terrible- even the good stuff. I think it has to do with control and feeding yourself what you like, how you like it and when you want it. Probably more so for foodies. My husband (and dad) for instance, don't care as long as there is lots of it!!

I think it is a really good question you have posed, now that I can sit down to a poached egg and 1/2 piece of toast. Then have some marmalade on the other 1/2 of the toast and be perfectly happy at the size of this breakfast, I figure in my parents day that was a perfectly normal sized breakfast. It's just that it is super sized portions laden with calories is the norm and convenient snacks and biscuits which have excess sugar and trans fat which is dreadfully unhealthy for us

Why not make out a plan for them for what would be a healthy portion sized way of eating. Your mum sounds great and knows what ought to be served up. I agree with Izzy regarding the dehydration. It seems such a shame the place where your parents are doesn't do bettr

Good thread and pertinent to many of us heading that way :0O
The thought of not being in control of my time and eating is scary horrid, really want to stay competent until the end and really hope fasting will chase away dementia.

I suppose as well one exercises less as one gets older and the metabolic rate goes down too so, however independant one is, smaller portions are needed. I don't think my parents ever realised that! Plus my ma would dish out the same size platefuls to everybody - male and female, young and old! A good solid cooked breakfast, suet puddings - the lot! No wonder she was roly poly as she got older but my kids used to love that and would enjoy cuddling up.
Seriously tho', two ladies in their nineties who live opposite us have both finished up in hospital recently because they were dehydrated. Drips sorted them out.
I also have a feeling that the elderly are excused fasting for religious reasons. Tis so in the Catholic church, not sure about Islam. What an ordeal in such hot weather as we've been having recently!

good to read everyone's thoughts on this. My mom says that most of the people in the residence eat fairly indulgently and would say 'why not? We don't have much else to give us pleasure'. Just to be clear here, these people are extremely competent. They eat in a dining room where they are served by staff and choose from a menu. They can ask for a 1/2 serve and the staff are extremely happy to meet their requests. This is no cheap nursing home! My reading of one of the dynamics is that people want to feel some enjoyment in their food and are not about to 'go without'. As my Dad says he doesn't buy green bananas anymore (may not be around for when they ripen). So I think that these people have quite a different measure of 'eating well' than we do. My sister is working with mom to try and find ways for her to regain control, lose some weight and be assertive about just wanting to have a nice tomato sandwich in her unit with a cup of tea. They will be fine but I think the broader issues are really going to have to be dealt with in the next 20 years when my generation (40 year olds) hit their doors!