Needless to say, she overshot the mark, and became very thin. But no power could persuade her to eat more than a very little bit. People who care for older people may find these processes a source of anxiety, frustration, and despair. You would like your mother to eat more to keep up her strength, but she refuses to eat very much, and what she eats does not seem to satisfy her needs. There is no tried and true answer to this problem.
Circumstances vary so much from person to person.
Clearly it is important to provide food for homebound elderly. For many older people in the US, especially in urban areas, going out of the house to get food or to exercise may be a dangerous proposition. Older people may also need help eating. People who have to struggle to open packages or to cook food, or to cut food and get it into their mouths, or who have to struggle to chew and swallow, may simply give up the struggle. To find out the best way to offer food to a person in these situations, consult with his or her physician, and with a registered dietitian.