Helping Hospice Patients Who Have Lost Their Appetite
Hospice brings about many challenges, both for patients and their caregivers. Many of the most basic things in life- eating, showering, walking, and other mundane tasks can become difficult or even impossible for patients to do themselves.
One aspect of hospice care that many people don’t expect is helping their loved one who is experiencing loss of appetite. At this time, when the patient needs all the help they can get to stay as healthy as possible, nourishment is very important. Not only does food keep the body healthy, but it can also help with energy levels, mood, and fighting off illness.
Understanding Diminished Appetite
Hospice patients can suffer from decreased appetite due to physical and psychological reasons. Examples of common causes for decreased appetite in hospice include:
1. Medication side effects
Certain medications, such as pain relievers or chemotherapy drugs, can have side effects that alter appetite or taste perception.
2. Nausea and vomiting
Chronic nausea or persistent vomiting may make eating unappetizing and even distressful.
3. Fatigue and weakness
Physical exhaustion commonly experienced with a terminal illness can make eating an effortful task, making swallowing painful or difficult.
4. Mouth and throat discomfort
Dry mouth, sore throat, or mouth sores can make the act of swallowing painful or difficult for some individuals.
5. Depression and Anxiety
Coping with terminal illness can take its toll emotionally, leading to loss of interest in activities like eating.
Understanding the underlying cause of each of these factors can help you develop a plan to help your loved one in the best way possible.
Prioritizing Comfort and Quality of Life
It is important to recognize that nourishment for hospice patients goes beyond mere physical nourishment. Eating can provide comfort, pleasure, and connection. By prioritizing these aspects of food and eating, you can use food as a way to maintain a strong relationship with your loved one. This also gives you the opportunity to keep a close eye on how much they are eating and think about how you may be able to tailor their meals to best meet their needs and physical condition.
Ask Them What They Want
It can be easy to slip into pre-planned rhythms as a way to help you incorporate caregiving into your already busy life. But remembering to check in with your loved one to see if the food you planned to make is actually appealing that day is important. It can be difficult for a hospice patient to predict how they will feel from hour to hour, much less days in advance, so having a few quick and easy recipes to pull from is a good idea.
Maybe their throat is sore or they feel too tired to chew that day. A nourishing soup or fresh smoothie might be a good meal. Maybe their digestion feels a bit off. Trying easy to digest foods, like rice, yogurt, oatmeal, and bananas might help.
Food as Memory
Many of the other posts on this blog talk about ways you can preserve a patient’s memories to cherish them for years to come. Food is often deeply associated with memories. You can use this in several ways to help a patient with a poor appetite.
First, you can have conversations about their favorite recipes, which serves the purpose of both telling you what they like and also giving you the opportunity to write down those recipes to pass down to future generations.
Secondly, if you are talking about a memory that involves a particular food, you can serve that food during the next meal. This is a way of signaling to the patient that you are paying attention and that you appreciate the time and effort it took them to share their memory with you.
Sometimes patients lose their appetite because they feel depressed. Feeling like someone is listening and then putting in the effort to do something special can help your loved one feel cherished.
Food as Restoration
Many times, eating can feel like work. First you have to think of what you want, then prep the food, then serve it, then eat it. This can feel overwhelming to a hospice patient, sometimes to the point that they just decide to skip eating altogether.
But if you can help create a dining experience for them, it can make eating easier and more enjoyable. This can help them find a reason to eat and may even encourage them to eat more.
You can bring in elements of fine dining for your loved one. Use a nice bed tray if they are eating in bed. Give them an actual cloth napkin and use the “good” silverware. Plate the food nicely. Light a candle and play classy music.
Do little things to elevate their meal experience so it is less about “you have to eat!” and more about “Bon Appétit!”
Practical Strategies to Support Appetite
Here are a few additional suggestions you can use to help your loved one eat well.
1. Small and frequent meals and snacks: Large portions can be overwhelming, so we encourage providing smaller, more frequent meals and snacks throughout the day.
2. Focus on Nutrient-Dense Options: When appetite is limited, eating nutrient-dense foods like smoothies or fortified milkshakes with added vitamins is one way to maximize caloric and nutritional intake.
3. Appealing Presentations: Paying close attention to the visual appeal of meals can make them more inviting and inviting, using colorful plates and garnishes to make food more inviting and pleasing.
4. Flavor Enhancement: Incorporating flavorful seasonings, herbs, or condiments into meals can enhance taste while making each bite even more delightful!
5. Texture modifications: For patients with swallowing difficulties, altering food textures by pureeing, chopping or thickening liquids can make eating safer and easier.
What do you do to help your loved one in hospice eat better? Share with us in the comments below!