Feeding Tube Question
Will a feeding tube prolong life at the final stage of dimentia?
Hi Jan
A feeding tube may prolong life. I am sorry I cannot be more precise.
Life expectancy should be prolonged as you can give fluids and meal supplements via the feeding tube, but ultimately this will also depend on the overall state of health of someone. Feeding tubes deliver a fluid diet that meets the dietary needs and is individually tailored to each person and their health needs. The supplements contain vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates etc.
A doctor will be able to advise you on the pros and cons prior to a feeding tube being put into place.
Dorian Martin wrote a great sharepost about trying to make the decision about having a feeding tube inserted. It can be a very difficult decision.
Christine
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Christine Kennard
Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Hi Jan
I think you are doing the right thing- finding out about the moral, legal and medical dilemmas that can face a family caregiving and acting as an advocate for a loved one who has Alzheimer's. It does help that your mother was able to give you definite ideas about what she would want to happen. I suppose it is just one of the things you will have to think about, especially as the nursing home lays down their own policies in regard to this matter so clearly.
The doctors and nurses will also help you and your family if such a decision ever has to be made.
Christine
I am sorry that your Mom may need feeding tube. I know from what I heard that the feeding tube may cause pain as there is some wound for the opening.
I asked 2 people some time ago about this. One of them is the caregiver who also has nurse degree and she told me the wound hurts and so if the AD patient is in the end stage, it may not be recommended because the pain is not helping the elderly.
The other person I heard about this is a friend of mine who was personal caregiver of her Mom for 10 years! She is caregiver professionally herself and she chose to sacrifice 10 years to be with her Mom in her house with her husband and 2 teenaged sons. When the time came, she had home hospice for her Mom and she even asked the hospital to bring the hospital bed in so her Mom can use the bed for hospice with some nurses' help. She said there was no point for feeding tube, so instead of the tube, it was the hospice and her Mom died peacefully with my friend next to her telling her it was ok to go. Her Mom had swallowing problem and etc. so the end was near.
The option may be that it does not matter it prolongs or not, since it may hurt, some people choose to skip it. If the person suffers more with feeding tube, then it may be time to consider hospice instead of feeding tube.
Hope this helps,
Nina
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j
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Nina,
Thank you for responding and sharing information. As you can see above, we are not at this time being faced with this decision rather I am just gathering information and educating myself should we ever have to face this situation.
Again, thank you.
Jan
N.C.
Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Hi, Jan,
Like you, I was interested in this issue such as DNR and no CPR and no feeding tube. I am more interested in this than my husband! My father-in-law's iinstruction was vague: If he is in coma, let him go. Otherwise, my husband has the right to decide for him about nursing home and other health issues in Illinois state. Somehow the details will fall on my husband's shoulder to decide that.
My FIL thought it was cruel to stop feeding fluid or whatever even just through the IV line. That was his opinion when my late mother-in-law was in the hospice for cancer.
So he asked them to put the food IV back on her. But it was just an IV, no feeding tube at all. I am not a nurse so I have no idea about the options they have in the hospice. It is for sure a sensitive issues.
It is good to prepare first.
Regards,
Nina
Thank you for your response and I will research Dorian Martin's post. I recently moved my Mother into a Catholic skilled nursing facility and upon revieiwing the contract the facility's policy regarding Nutrition and Hydration was addressed. At this time, I am just trying to educate myself and understand what the appropriate actions would be should we ever be faced with this decision. My Mother has a DNR and was very clear that she would never want a feeding tube under any circumstances. Years ago she told me when her sister had a feeding tube that she felt it was cruel and only prolonged imminent death. This facility's policy is that they feel morally and legally obligated to assure basic requirements for life are met which include nourishment and fluids. There are three exceptions to this policy (I will not outline them in this post) and unless the resident's condition falls within one of the exceptions, the Home will not participate in withholding or withdrawing nourishment or fluids.
I just want to be prepared should we ever face this situation. This is such a sensitive and difficult topic for me and my siblings. Thank you for responding.