BASIC CARE
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• Enrich food and increase caloric intake by adding eggs, cheese, powdered milk, protein powder, or peanut butter to recipes. Consider blended shakes made with ice cream and fruit. • Use liquid dietary supplements (like Ensure, Sustacal, or instant breakfast mix) between meals. • Nutrition consultations are available, if necessary, especially if the patient has any dietary restrictions, cultural requirements, or a history of diabetes. The subject of food and fluids can be an emotional topic for many families. Your Care Team is there to listen to your concerns and answer questions about food and fluids. Studies show that artificial fluids such as those delivered by intravenous infusions (IV) and feeding tubes do not increase a patient’s quality of life and may actually increase discomfort, fluid overload, and the risk of infection. The goal of care is to increase comfort and well-being. Food and drink can play an important role in comfort. Your Care Team can help you make decisions based on your needs and wishes.
CALL YOUR CARE TEAM IF: • You notice increased difficulty in swallowing or incidents of choking. • Patient experiences increased nausea, vomiting, or other eating difficulties. • Patient is suffering from abdominal cramping or pain. • You notice significant changes occurring in patient’s appetite or amount of food eaten.
FourSeasonsCare.org
866.466.9734
Four Seasons
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