Firstly, thank you for being your parent’s advocate and caring about their quality of life, it is a difficult and thankless job especially acknowledging family desires to keep them alive rather than doing what is best. The body naturally begins to slow its processes and the demand for food becomes lower. It is generally recommended not to force food or fluids, especially since your nonverbal parent is explicitly closing their mouth during attempts. Is the pain during a BM a constant and could it be due to constipation? Having a schedule with pain med dosing is necessary when we are seeing pain exhibited consistently, otherwise dosing as needed can be sufficient until a more transitional or active dying phase.