Objective To explore the nutritional care experiences of family caregivers of older patients with chronic heart failure, to analyze their stressors, perceptions, resources, and outcomes, and to provide evidence for the development of targeted intervention strategies. Methods Guided by the ABC-X model, a descriptive qualitative study was conducted. From September to November 2025, 14 primary family caregivers of older patients with chronic heart failure were purposively recruited. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using directed content analysis to identify themes. Results Four themes and 11 subthemes were identified. The themes included: multiple stressors associated with nutritional care （psychological stress, physical stress, financial stress, and stress related to inadequate knowledge and skills）; differences in caregivers′ perceptions of nutritional care （positive perceptions driven by integrated understanding and negative perceptions characterized by cognitive bias）; resources available during the coping process （the exploration and limitations of personal resources, the integration and depletion of family resources, and the desire for professional and social support）; and differentiated outcomes of nutritional care （positive caregiving outcomes and negative caregiving outcomes）. Conclusion Family caregivers encounter multiple challenges when providing nutritional care for older patients with chronic heart failure. Healthcare professionals should offer individualized and continuous nutritional support interventions to enhance caregivers′ nutritional care competence and improve patients′ nutritional status and prognosis.