Tube Feeding on Hospice — Increased Risk of Your Loved One Suffering
Published on July 14, 2023
Updated on July 12, 2024
Published on July 14, 2023
Updated on July 12, 2024
Table of Contents
When a loved one is terminally ill, one of the most challenging decisions that families face is whether to use tube feeding or not. Tube feeding is a medical intervention that delivers liquid nutrition and hydration through a tube inserted into the stomach or intestine. While some people may think that tube feeding can prolong life or prevent starvation, the reality is that it may not offer any benefits for hospice patients. Tube feeding can pose several risks that can negatively affect the patient’s comfort, dignity, and quality of life. In this article, I will share some of the risks of tube feeding for hospice patients based on my experience as a hospice nurse.
Tube feeding can have adverse effects on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of hospice patients. Here are some of the risks that I have observed in my practice:
Tube feeding is a complex and controversial issue that requires careful consideration and discussion among the patient, their family, and the hospice interdisciplinary team. The primary goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and support, focusing on the patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Tube feeding may not achieve this goal and may cause more harm than good for hospice patients. Therefore, it is important to explore alternative approaches to nourishment and hydration that can be more beneficial and respectful for the patient. These include mouth care, small sips of fluids, and providing food that the patient enjoys and can tolerate. These methods can help patients maintain their dignity, comfort, and quality of life while honoring their wishes and values.
Is my loved one being dehydrated to death?
Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life: Beneficial or Harmful?
Benefits and Risks of Artificial Nutrition or Hydration
Hospice Nutrition and Hydration for Your Patients
CaringInfo – Caregiver support and much more!
Surviving Caregiving with Dignity, Love, and Kindness
Caregivers.com | Simplifying the Search for In-Home Care
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Take Back Your Life: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm
The Conscious Caregiver: A Mindful Approach to Caring for Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved
Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying
Providing Comfort During the Last Days of Life with Barbara Karnes RN (YouTube Video)
Preparing the patient, family, and caregivers for a “Good Death.”
Velocity of Changes in Condition as an Indicator of Approaching Death (often helpful to answer how soon? or when?)
The Dying Process and the End of Life
Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience
The Eleventh Hour: A Caring Guideline for the Hours to Minutes Before Death