Nursing home workers share foods that bring comfort to patients

Fiore provided an example of the fun nutrition that came with a hint from previous cocktails. “My father was taking morphine drops and he didn’t like the taste,” she said. “We followed his nurse’s advice and bought a few small bottles of his favorite liquor. We would put a few drops on his tongue after taking shots.

Since safety becomes more important when chewing and swallowing begin to fail, Fiore suggested tubs of cotton candy. “Because it literally melts in your mouth, it poses little to no choking hazard, and can bring back all the feelings and memories of being a kid at the fair,” she said. Fiore also recommended ordering a local bakery for pie filling containers, which can be soft, safe and convenient.

Please do not click on certain menus

“We want the people we love to eat well, but that’s not always possible,” Thornhill explained. “Even when people die, out of love we want them to eat nutritiously,” she said. “But as the body begins to naturally shut down, eating becomes less of a priority. This can be a very personal and gentle process, as the person may not feel as hungry or may prefer smaller amounts of food.

Instead of pushing or suggesting menus, be prepared to push back. “My advice is to follow your loved one’s lead and support their choices when it comes to food,” Thornhill said.