Stomach bugs in elderly

[AInightingale]

My mother who is in a care home had gastroenteritis last weekend and is still in bed, with zero appetite (she usually eats well) and has lost a lot of weight. She is drinking water but couldn't even eat half of a plain biscuit today. Is this normal in the elderly, surely she can't continue like this for eight days and counting!? Will she end up in hospital needing glucose etc - she is 89 years old and they just describe it as 'poor appetite' following a virus. I've had noro myself and I know that it does kill the appetite but a week is excessive surely?

Is she drinking plain water or fruit cordial? You can keep going quite well on plain water with 1tsp sugar and 1/4 salt per pint. Earlier this year I did about 4-5 days on lightly salted ginger cordial.

Just plain water but has lost quite a bit of weight.

Hi OP
sorry to hear your mum is unwell.
based on your information she is a risk of dehydration and other complications such as electrolyte imbalance.

The official nhs advice (screenshot) is to speak to pharmacist at this stage, however given the duration and age of your mother I fully expect the pharmacist would advise GP/111. Especially as you couldn’t take her to pharmacy in person!
you might need to advocate with the home staff, perhaps there is a communication issue in handovers meaning they haven’t fully realised how long it has been going on or they may be inexperienced.

I would be speaking to the senior carer or manager today, ask to speak one to one in the office so they are free from distraction and interruption. Ask them to document your concerns and advise you at what stage they will be seeking medical advice. If it’s not today I think you need to do it yourself. Ask them also what physical obs they have taken. They may push back and say they are not a nursing home however it is good practice for care homes to be able to at least take her temperature as most of us would at home.

the thing with calling 111 (if no luck with GP) is that they won’t hesitate to escalate it as an emergency either advising A&E or arranging GP appointment. In an ideal world she needs GP to visit her today or to give clear advice if they won’t visit.

Sorry forgot screenshot!

I lost half a stone over 5 days but put half of it back on quite quickly after recovery, so assumed it was the combined effect of a bit of dehydration (which can make you lose a lot) and completely evacuating my bowels. So it may not all be permanent. But at her age she needs to be seen

The home seems chronically understaffed and I have my doubts about it tbh. Not at all like a hospital setting where they do frequent obs. I am guessing that if noro is going round they are even more pushed, I will speak to the manager asap, thanks all.