At the very end of life, the patient usually no longer has a desire to eat, and the feeling of hunger disappears. During the dying process, bodily functions gradually cease, and the body is no longer able to make use of nutrients or fluids.
On the other hand, artificial hydration or nutrition leads to fluid leaking into the tissues, causing swelling, shortness of breath, and increased suffering. That’s why artificial hydration often does not constitute good care for a person who’s dying.
Hydration is applicable when the patient’s fluid intake is temporarily impaired or the patient is suffering from temporary dehydration, like in the case of diarrhoea. Hydration is beneficial in situations where the cause can be treated and the patient’s state is expected to improve following hydration. Dying is not one of these situations. In other words, the patient is not dying because of not eating or drinking, but rather, they are not eating or drinking because they are approaching death.
A sense of thirst that can result from dry mouth may be relieved with good mouth care and making sure that the mucous membranes of the mouth are kept moist.