{"id":7074,"date":"2023-09-01T07:05:12","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T07:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matrixbricks.us\/suncrest\/?p=7074"},"modified":"2024-09-21T11:58:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T11:58:33","slug":"nutritional-concerns-in-hospice-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matrixbricks.us\/suncrest\/nutritional-concerns-in-hospice-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutritional Concerns in Hospice Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

What should you do when a loved one in hospice care stops eating?<\/p>\n

To many people, food is one of life\u2019s greatest pleasures. And we all know that food is sustenance \u2013 the nutrients supply us with the energy we need to remain healthy. So, when someone we love doesn\u2019t want to eat, it can be quite distressing.<\/p>\n

In the advanced stages of a terminal illness, food may become less important. Eventually, it\u2019s quite common for a hospice patient to lose their appetite altogether. When that happens, family and friends often find comfort in seeing the individual eat. However, nutritional needs change at the end of life, and as difficult as it may be, following their lead is important. Below, the professionals at Suncrest of Chicago<\/a> share more on the role of nutrition in hospice care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"hospiceEnd-of-Life Nutrition<\/h2>\n

Why do hospice patients have less of an interest in food?<\/p>\n

As time goes on, terminally ill individuals simply don\u2019t experience hunger as they once did. The body begins to shut down when a person is dying, and that being so, significantly less in the way of nutrition is required. Also, with some terminal illnesses, patients experience frequent nausea or a change in taste, both of which can diminish the desire to eat.<\/p>\n

In hospice care, dietary support is provided, and hospice dietitians do all they can to address issues that affect eating. However, it\u2019s important for family and friends to know that forcing food can do more harm than good.<\/p>\n

The Approach to Nutrition in Hospice Care<\/h2>\n

At the end of life, the body doesn\u2019t have the strength to process the nutrients in food. Eating can be exhausting, and for some hospice patients, going to the bathroom can be painful. With that in mind, hospice care professionals consider quality of life when making recommendations regarding nutritional support<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For hospice patients who are losing interest in eating, shifting to a relaxed diet might spark the appetite. Providing whatever foods the individual craves, with no regard to nutrition, can bring more joy to the end-of-life experience.<\/p>\n

When a patient in hospice care wants to eat, but is too weak or can\u2019t manage more than a few bites, family caregivers may be advised to provide assistance with feeding. Serving smaller meals and choose calorically dense foods that are easy to digest, such as oatmeal, eggs, rice pudding and smoothies, can also be beneficial.<\/p>\n

If someone in hospice care is refusing food, continuing to offer small meals and snacks is fine, but forcing them to eat is never the answer. Opting for a feeding tube isn\u2019t a good solution, either. Taking those actions can actually complicate the dying process, leading to adverse symptoms like bloating, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and aspiration. In these cases, honoring the patient\u2019s wishes and allowing them to stop eating can be the right choice.<\/p>\n

Supporting a Loved One in Hospice Care<\/h2>\n

More often than not, families of hospice patients are troubled by the idea of letting a loved one forgo food. Some are concerned about starvation, and plenty of people have the feeling that giving in is akin to giving up. That\u2019s not the case \u2013 our bodies tell us what is needed, and when a terminally ill individual is refusing to eat, their body may very well be saying that it doesn\u2019t need food anymore.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t easy to accept, but the hospice care team at Suncrest of Chicago assists families in finding ways to support a loved one\u2019s decision to stop eating. The focus at this time should be on quality of life, not on food, and one of the best ways to show love for someone who is dying is to act in accordance with their wishes.<\/p>\n

When families need reassurance, our hospice care professionals offer these reminders:<\/p>\n