Is my loved one starving to death?

Unfortunately, most people receiving hospice care reach a point where they are no longer able to swallow, thus unable to eat and drink. This can be hard for the caregiver and family to accept, yet research suggests that in most cases this is not uncomfortable for the person.

Nourishment simply becomes no longer needed. A body that is not shutting down needs food and liquid for energy, but one that is going through the dying process has no need for sustenance.