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Eating and drinking during last days of life

Posted Monday, 24 April 2023

Date issued: April 2023

Review date: April 2025

Ref: C-526/CW/SALT/Eating and drinking during last days of life

During last days of life, eating and drinking may often be for pleasure and comfort.

People who are awake and wish to eat and drink should be offered:

Teaspoons or small sips of normal fluids.
Any foods that they wish to eat.
Often pureed food will be easier to manage due to its smoother texture (i.e., yogurts, custards, pureed favourite meals).

These suggestions are what may be most comfortable. People can be offered anything they wish for.

The focus on eating is for quality of life and comfort, therefore, people may choose to eat how much or how little as they wish.

During last days of life, people may not wish to eat and drink.

They may often experience:

Oral hygiene is important when eating and drinking less.
Mouthcare swabs and toothbrushes should be used to keep the mouth and lips clean and moist.
Try using a non-foaming toothpaste when brushing teeth.
Artificial saliva gels can also be used if the person’s mouth is very dry.
Monitor for signs of oral thrush.

When eating and drinking, it often helps to:

Stay with the person and offer assistance with eating and drinking if needed i.e., hand over hand for drinks and cutting up foods.
Ensure that the person is awake and alert and sat as upright as possible.
Offer small teaspoons at a time and allow time for the person to swallow.
Allow people to finish a mouthful before giving another.
Eating and drinking is for pleasure, if the person does not wish to eat and drink, or shows signs of distress/coughing, stop and offer again later.

For any further advice contact the Speech and Language Therapy department: 01752 432206