Hi Elaine,
Working with the elderly Elaine, you must have had lots of experience with end of life scenarios. Could the ill person have decided not to eat or drink and it is not the family? There is a huge difference between the ill person not wanting it and the family not wanting to nourish the ill person.
I have heard there are many reasons for a person not eating (or drinking). Dislike of food attributed to texture, colour or taste. Drugs interfering with muscles and can’t swallow, suspicion of the food or the person giving the food (One lady I knew thought there are bugs in it (pepper)). Its just too difficult to swallow (sore throat), too hot/cold, or cannot use a fork. Sometimes they have a sore in their mouth or an abscess making putting any thing in their mouth upsetting. Are they constipated or in pain? They could be just plain not hungry or that part of the brain that controls hunger doesn’t work well anymore.
The liquid supplements (meal in a can) were mentioned (Ensure?).
I have also been told by the staff working in my mum’s home that this can also be a latent stage before passing. The person just stops eating. One staff member explained that the body knows how to live, and it also knows how to die. She said the person does not experience discomfort. It’s like fasting. Organs will eventually shut down. Is this person at this point Elaine or are they active otherwise? Every where I know staff must always offer food and drink (never force), but always offer different types and encouragement should the person still want food and drink at any point.
The family refusing food to an ill person is who won't eat opposed to can't eat for other reasons is wrong.
Different techniques can be tried if all avenues have been looked at and there is not other reason they do not want food or drink; they do not want it, but this should always be encouraged. Will the person eat ice cream? They all love ice cream…
Jennifer Sierra