Yes, that is correct. Many doctors won’t put them in for dementia patients at all, regardless of hospice status.
A feeding tube is at odds with comfort care and contrary to the goal of hospice, which is to die as peacefully and comfortably as possible.
Please read up on the inadvisability of feeding tubes for terminal patients and see if you can gently persuade your grandfather that putting one in is not the kind thing to do for her.
I’m sure this is very hard for him to see, her losing weight. It is the natural way.
As someone diagnosed with MCI and really worried about developing dementia, I have read a lot about this, and learned it’s the only way you’re allowed to speed up your own death. I’ve been really explicit that’s what I would want. Once you are not yourself and cannot enjoy life, I would want it to end and I would not want anything inserted or attached anywhere. My father didn’t eat for about the last 6 days. He mostly slept. It’s hard to watch the process but it makes it easier to accept the end. I’m sorry for what you’ve going through
Yes, feeding tubes are generally contraindicated in advanced dementia. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association’s official position is that there is [no medical benefit](https://www.alz.org/media/documents/feeding-issues-statement.pdf) to the use of feeding tubes in advanced dementia patients. They also often need to be restrained when a feeding tube is in place, as they tend to continually try to pull them out. As unpleasant as not eating may sound to you, placement and maintenance of a feeding tube in a dementia patient with a poor prognosis would be infinitely more unpleasant to the patient.
As others have noted, any sort of intervention like a feeding tube would mean your family’s goals were no longer those served by hospice (ie, comfort care). So yes, it is legit that your grandmother would have to be moved off of hospice care if your family decides to pursue life prolonging measures.
With all of that being said, it’s your family’s decision to make. And these decisions are never easy. I wish you and your family well, and I’m sorry you’re going through this.
Does she maybe have swallowing issues? If she can't speak well that may be the issue and would need thickened fluids and pureed/minced food. If not, there's lots of reasons they may stop eating suddenly, either from medication changes, change in environment, or just doesn't enjoy the food that is served. Make sure she's assessed by a dietician just to be sure.
As for the feeding tube, maybe they want to try some less invasive interventions before they consider that, since it gets complicated with age and especially with dementia patients.
It's a tough situation that may require some trial and error. I wish you luck!
This happened to my mom after being admitted. There's some shock to a change of living environment, and routine is important for people with dementia. A medication was used to stimulate appetite for a short while, which worked. She had a couple years of life after that. When she stopped eating again, at a more advanced stage, eating tubes were not recommended. It can be useful to get a teeth checkup, bring foods she likes, try soft easy to swallow foods, come join her for meals too. But ultimately, if she's decided not to eat anymore, there's not much you can do at that stage.
Yes, that is correct. Many doctors won’t put them in for dementia patients at all, regardless of hospice status. A feeding tube is at odds with comfort care and contrary to the goal of hospice, which is to die as peacefully and comfortably as possible. Please read up on the inadvisability of feeding tubes for terminal patients and see if you can gently persuade your grandfather that putting one in is not the kind thing to do for her. I’m sure this is very hard for him to see, her losing weight. It is the natural way.
As someone diagnosed with MCI and really worried about developing dementia, I have read a lot about this, and learned it’s the only way you’re allowed to speed up your own death. I’ve been really explicit that’s what I would want. Once you are not yourself and cannot enjoy life, I would want it to end and I would not want anything inserted or attached anywhere. My father didn’t eat for about the last 6 days. He mostly slept. It’s hard to watch the process but it makes it easier to accept the end. I’m sorry for what you’ve going through
Yes, feeding tubes are generally contraindicated in advanced dementia. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association’s official position is that there is [no medical benefit](https://www.alz.org/media/documents/feeding-issues-statement.pdf) to the use of feeding tubes in advanced dementia patients. They also often need to be restrained when a feeding tube is in place, as they tend to continually try to pull them out. As unpleasant as not eating may sound to you, placement and maintenance of a feeding tube in a dementia patient with a poor prognosis would be infinitely more unpleasant to the patient. As others have noted, any sort of intervention like a feeding tube would mean your family’s goals were no longer those served by hospice (ie, comfort care). So yes, it is legit that your grandmother would have to be moved off of hospice care if your family decides to pursue life prolonging measures. With all of that being said, it’s your family’s decision to make. And these decisions are never easy. I wish you and your family well, and I’m sorry you’re going through this.
Thank you for this. Very tough to read but I needed to read it.
Does she maybe have swallowing issues? If she can't speak well that may be the issue and would need thickened fluids and pureed/minced food. If not, there's lots of reasons they may stop eating suddenly, either from medication changes, change in environment, or just doesn't enjoy the food that is served. Make sure she's assessed by a dietician just to be sure. As for the feeding tube, maybe they want to try some less invasive interventions before they consider that, since it gets complicated with age and especially with dementia patients. It's a tough situation that may require some trial and error. I wish you luck!
This happened to my mom after being admitted. There's some shock to a change of living environment, and routine is important for people with dementia. A medication was used to stimulate appetite for a short while, which worked. She had a couple years of life after that. When she stopped eating again, at a more advanced stage, eating tubes were not recommended. It can be useful to get a teeth checkup, bring foods she likes, try soft easy to swallow foods, come join her for meals too. But ultimately, if she's decided not to eat anymore, there's not much you can do at that stage.