stage: 6

When someone with dementia stops eating and drinking — what it means and what comfort looks like

Reduced eating and drinking is a natural and expected part of the end stage of dementia. As the brain loses the ability to coordinate swallowing and the body begins to shut down, appetite and thirst diminish. This is not the same as starvation and does not cause the suffering it would in a healthy person — the body's reduced metabolism at this stage means it needs very little. Artificial nutrition through a feeding tube is not recommended for people in the final stage of dementia and does not prolong life or improve comfort. The focus should be on small amounts of food and fluid by mouth if the person can manage safely, careful mouth care to keep lips and gums moist, and ensuring the person is comfortable and not distressed. A palliative care nurse can explain what to expect and help families understand that this process, while hard to witness, is not painful for the person.