Eating

A person with an advancing illness will not eat as much as they once did. While it is important to use strategies that can increase interest in eating, rather than become too focused on increasing the amount of food a patient takes. One of the simplest tactics is to offer small snacks throughout the day, and to make these snacks high in protein and calories. Cream soups and ice cream are good alternatives. If the person has developed a distaste for meat, then look for high protein alternatives such as eggs and fish.

Recognize that people with advancing illnesses often become full quickly, sometimes after just a few bites of food. Do not push people to eat more, as nausea and vomiting may result. Despite your concern, focus on making mealtime a social occasion, and avoid making mealtimes a battleground about eating. Relying on favourite foods can be a good way to ensure the person will be more likely to eat. If the person is being cared for in a hospital or other facility away from the home, ask the medical team about bringing in foods that are not available in that setting. Above all, remember that rejection of food is not a rejection of the caregiver.

Practical Tips When Helping Someone to Eat at Mealtime:

• Ensure the patient is sitting comfortably and upright to make swallowing comfortable
• Provide finger foods when eating with cutlery has become difficult
• Use a spoon whenever practical as opposed to a fork
• Offer small amounts of food, placed at the front of the mouth, allowing the person to swallow before offering another bite
• Straws can be make eating easier, especially large diameter ones, such as those used for bubble tea or Slurpees, for thickened liquids such as shakes.