The person’s
appetite is likely to
be very reduced.
They may no longer
wish to eat or drink
anything. This could
be because they find
the effort of eating
or drinking to be too
much. But it may
also be because they
have little or no need
or desire for food or
drink.
Eventually, the person
will stop eating and
drinking, and will not
be able to swallow
tablets.
should you be worried?
If a person stops
eating or drinking
because of their
reduced appetite,
this may be hard to
accept, but it is a
normal part of the
dying process.
If they stop drinking,
their mouth may look
dry, but this does not
always mean they are
dehydrated.
It is normal for
all dying people
eventually to stop
eating and drinking.
is there anything you can do to help?
If the person is
conscious and they
want something to
eat or drink, you can
offer sips, provided
they can still swallow.
You can give some
comfort to a person
with a dry mouth by:
- offering a drink
through a straw (or
from a teaspoon or
syringe)
- moistening the
mouth with a damp
sponge – special
kinds of sponge
are available for
this purpose (the
person may bite on
this at first, but keep
holding it, as they
will let go) placing ice chips in
the mouth
- applying lip balm
Your doctor may prescribe an oral gel that is used to help moisten the person’s lips and mouth.
