Patient education: Failure to thrive in adults (The Basics)

What is failure to thrive? — 

This is often described as a general decline in older adults as they become more frail. Adults with failure to thrive might:

●Lose weight without trying

●Have a poor appetite, or drink very little

●Have poor nutrition or trouble chewing and swallowing

●Feel very weak or tired

●Have depression or a low mood

●Have trouble with memory and thinking

●Have trouble taking care of themselves without help

What can cause failure to thrive? — 

Many things can contribute to an adult having failure to thrive. Examples include:

●Illnesses or conditions like cancer, diabetes, or heart, liver, or kidney problems

●Trouble moving around because of something like a fall, stroke, surgery, or arthritis

●Certain medicines

●Trouble affording, getting, or cooking food

●Mental health or memory problems

●Elder abuse or neglect

How is failure to thrive treated? — 

Treatment depends on what's causing the symptoms. It might include 1 or more of the following:

●Working with a team of providers – This might include a social worker, dietitian (food expert), pharmacists, and physical, occupational, or speech therapists.

●Treating ongoing illnesses

●Improving nutrition, and taking in more calories

●Reviewing medicines

●Prescribing medicines to help treat depression, low mood, or other problems

●Increasing physical activity to increase strength

What else should I know?

●Make sure that glasses, hearing aids, and dentures fit well and are working.

●Try to keep mealtimes relaxed and social. If possible, eat with family or friends.

●Try to eat 3 meals a day.

●Eat healthy snacks that you enjoy. Examples might include crackers and peanut butter, cheese, eggs, pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese, cereal, nuts, and fresh fruit or vegetables with dips.

●Stay as active as possible, both physically and mentally. For example:

•Take walks if you can and you enjoy them.

•A physical therapist might recommend that you do exercises to help with stretching and balance.

•Play games or do puzzles and crafts if you enjoy them.

More on this topic

Patient education: Exercise and movement as you get older (The Basics)
Patient education: Activity level (The Basics)
Patient education: Diet and health (The Basics)
Patient education: Malnutrition (The Basics)

Patient education: Exercise (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Diet and health (Beyond the Basics)