Food for Thought: Support if Your Loved One Is Not Eating

It's heartbreaking when someone you love stops eating. This resource explains what's happening and how you can help.

As illness advances, the body can't digest and absorb nutrients the way it used to, so appetite fades. Eating when you're not hungry can cause nausea, bloating and pain, so let your loved one choose whether to eat or drink. Offer small amounts, pureed foods, nutritional supplements and favourite drinks. Keep the mouth moist and clean for comfort. Thirst can usually be eased with sips of water, ice chips or hard candy.

Near the end of life, only sips of fluid, or nothing at all, is normal. It isn't starvation. The body is preparing itself. Artificial feeding and hydration can help some people, but can also cause or worsen symptoms.

It also acknowledges how caregivers feel: overwhelmed, powerless, even in conflict. Those feelings are natural. Consider whether your loved one has shared wishes about feeding, whether they can make their own decisions, and who holds Power of Attorney for personal care. The Canadian Virtual Hospice has more nutrition resources.