My 70-year-old great grandmother does not eat well, and she has bad pains in her leg. What can I do to help her?

Question:  My 70-year-old great grandmother does not eat as well as she should. She basically eats no solid food whatsoever and only eats ice cream. She also sleeps a whole lot. She has bad pains in her leg, but her doctor is unable to find what it is exactly and help her. Besides forcing food onto her, what else is there to do? 

Dr. Amy:  It sounds like there is something significant going on with your great grandmother, perhaps both physically and psychologically. I encourage you to seek another medical opinion to get an answer to her health issues. At the same time, if you feel she is a danger to herself because she is not taking care of herself, I suggest that you contact the Adult Protective Services Unit of your county department of Social Services to discuss your concerns. You need to take action—these are not things to ignore.