Taste for Pleasure - Bringing Comfort at the End of Life

A blog by Dr Olivia Farrer, Teaching Program Director and Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University

At the end of life, it’s often the smallest gestures that leave the most lasting impact - a kind word, a gentle touch, or in this case the familiar taste of a loved one’s favourite drink. That’s the thinking behind a compassionate initiative introduced across two hospitals in Shropshire, UK: Taste for Pleasure.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) is taking a more human-centred approach - one that improves patient comfort and creates space for meaningful connection. The Taste for Pleasure initiative allows patients to receive mouth care using a small amount of their favourite flavours, whether it’s juice, tea, lemonade, or even a dash of whiskey or champagne.

More than just a change in clinical practice, this initiative is about changing the culture around end-of-life care. Jules Lock, Swan End-of-Life Care Volunteer for SaTH, & Jules Lewis, Swan End-of-Life Care & Team were inspired to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) - Taste for Pleasure for End-of-Life Care Patients in 2019. This included changing language and bed signage from nil by mouth (NMB) to Taste for Pleasure. This came about after spending time with end-of-life care patients and families who were supported to share a touching moment, sipping prosecco together, whilst the dying person had prosecco as taste for pleasure, a celebration of life and love in their final hours.     

In the Taste for Pleasure initiative, families are encouraged to be involved as much as is feasible, such as in selecting the flavours their loved one enjoys and participating in the care where possible. Watching a loved one become disinterested in food and drink, a normal part of dying, can be confronting and difficult to accept. This simple act of providing mouth care in such a personalised way can offer families a sense of purpose and comfort during this time.

In an institutional setting, Jules Lock notes in her blog, that the traditional NBM signage above the bed is a harsh reminder that a loved one will not eat and drink again. Their change in procedure to use the term Taste for Pleasure reflected a shift in language and mindset: towards kindness, dignity, and recognising that these final moments matter deeply. It’s a reminder that we have one chance to get it right, for every person, every time.

This approach might follow other person-centred care models such as Eating and Drinking with Acknowledged Risk (EDAR) — a clinical framework used when individuals, often with dysphagia or other swallowing difficulties, choose to continue eating and drinking despite the potential risks. EDAR supports autonomy and shared decision-making as people approach end of life.

As with any initiatives where clinical risk is a factor, it is important to facilitate early discussions with the older person, their family and the health care team. In this instance the Speech Pathologist and Dietitian would be key clinicians who could have input into a family conference around initiating an EDAR framework alongside the physician and nursing team members.

In end-of-life care, it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference. And sometimes, that difference is as small, and powerful, as the taste of a favourite cup of tea.

SaTH has generously offered to share their Taste for Pleasure SOP to support others in exploring similar initiatives. 

🔗 Find out more in the ELDAC Allied Health Toolkit: Hot Topic 1 – EDAR.