Kristall, I'm assuming your were told this by a doctor? What kind of doctor?
1. I think first you need to find out the reason for tube feeding, the specific condition(s) causing it, and what other options may or may not exist.
2. You also need to find out the anticipated duration, i.e., whether the tube is for a short or longer term, or permanently.
3. What is the likelihood he would have to be reliant on a tube for the long term, or possibly forever?
4. What type of nutrition will he have, assuming first that it's all liquids? Would it be prepared nutrition? (My father was prescribed Nestle's Pro Balance. The first delivery resulted in stripping the front closet and filling it with a few dozen cases of Pro Balance.
5. Who, or will you or family, be taught how to care for the tube, such as pre and post feeding flushing? What, if any, help will you have from family, friends, or paid help?
6. Can the tube feeding equipment (an apparatus on which the tube is hung be accommodated in his current living environment, at home?
7. A critical question: what is the likelihood he'll ever be able to eat normally? The deprivation of eating, chewing, and enjoying the taste of food cannot be minimized. I could tell it was depressing; that's another critical factor to address. Given his current condition, would he want to be challenged by life with a feeding tube? And easily as important, how does your father feel about this?
8. The profile states he is depressed and has Parkinson's Disease. These two factors make me wonder if a feeding tube would accelerate either condition, causing more depression. How advanced is his Parkinson's Disease?
9. With hearing loss, are you still able to communicate with him? He would definitely need to be told what's happening, and why. His not understanding would be terrifying.
10. What are the predictions if he decides not to have a tube, possible for the rest of his life?
My experience with a feeding tube was post multiple physical complications, induced coma, slow recovery, dysphagia, and gradual weaning off the tube, over a period of several months. The prediction of the prescribing doctors was mixed: one said he was headed for the Pearly Gates; another said that he could heal and eventually return to normalh earing, but it was all very uncertain at that time.
11. You will likely need backup. I cleaned the tube, fed my father with the Nestle's ProBalance, then cleaned again, every 4 hours, then a bolus feeding at night. After 2 months I was exhausted from lack of sleep and changing my schedule to get things done only between the 4 hour breaks.
If I had to do it over again, I would have tried to find someone highly qualified to take over one feeding a day a few times a week so I could get more rest and get grocery shopping done. I doubt however that I could have found someone without extensive searching.
I did get help from a nurse, but it was b/c the care group I hired was top notch, from a hospital in an area known for its excellence.
12. Would my father or I do it all over again if we had to? Yes, but I would make a lot of back-up plans first, especially for the isolation and depression. We were fortunate that we could stay in my deceased's sister's home for the duration, closer to good medical care, and to a local branch of his church.
Friends from his own area visited him; one local member of the church in my sister's area took him to church, and visited. All of this was absolutely critical to healing.
13, Either a doctor, NP or someone at those levels, needs to sit down with you and your family,, & provide a good explanation of the need, what happens next, what options to support family care are available, & all other questions you can raise.
14. If your father is a Veteran, the VA may be able to help with home care.
Whatever your father & you decide, I wish you peace and solace in your lives.
Many times posters put their age in their profile instead of the age of the person they are taking care of. Kristal writes: "I am caring for my father Kristal, who is 54 years old, living at home with age-related decline, alzheimer's / dementia, depression, hearing loss, and parkinson's disease."
Is there anything in writing that states what your father's wishes would be in this type of situation?
My mother made the decision to refuse a feeding tube for my father, because she knew he'd never want to live like that.
Does your father live with you? Or vice-versa? Are you the caregiver? Do you have POA/HCPOA?
Sorry. We need more information. Is this person demented and unable to make his own decision? Does he have an advanced directive? What does it say about this or what did this person discuss with his POA? Is there a POA? What condition necessitates this tube placement? Is this a temporary or a permanent need? What is the diagnosis and prognosis of this person? I myself have already written into my advanced directive that I do not EVER want any artificial means of feeding whether gastrostomy or naso-gastric tube or TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and that I will never accept dialysis under any circumstances, nor intubation temporary of permanent. What choices have doctors explained to the POA?
Does you dad want the feeding tube? Will it improve his quality of life? Will it be permanent or just temporary? Like the other responders, I'm guessing your father is older than 54(which is what your profile says he is)with all of his issues. I would discuss it with him, and let him decide if it's something he wants, and go from there. And if he decides he wants it, then whoever cares for him, will have to learn how to feed him through it, along with caring for it as well. Also make sure it's actually needed, as when my husband first had his massive stroke, and was unable to swallow, they talked me into having one put in him. And then about a week later, he started to be able to eat on his own, and they had to remove it. To me that was a waste of our money, and needless surgery for my husband who was already going through so much. So make sure you're getting all the information to make an educated decision. Best wishes.
I think the age of 54 is not correct. Correct age would help.
I would only allow a feeding tube if it was going to improve and be removed. Because once it's inserted it hard to get it removed. If its being inserted to only give him more time, I may not allow it. This all depends on how far his Dementia and Parkinson's is. And his age.
1. I think first you need to find out the reason for tube feeding, the specific condition(s) causing it, and what other options may or may not exist.
2. You also need to find out the anticipated duration, i.e., whether the tube is for a short or longer term, or permanently.
3. What is the likelihood he would have to be reliant on a tube for the long term, or possibly forever?
4. What type of nutrition will he have, assuming first that it's all liquids? Would it be prepared nutrition? (My father was prescribed Nestle's Pro Balance. The first delivery resulted in stripping the front closet and filling it with a few dozen cases of Pro Balance.
5. Who, or will you or family, be taught how to care for the tube, such as pre and post feeding flushing? What, if any, help will you have from family, friends, or paid help?
6. Can the tube feeding equipment (an apparatus on which the tube is hung be accommodated in his current living environment, at home?
7. A critical question: what is the likelihood he'll ever be able to eat normally? The deprivation of eating, chewing, and enjoying the taste of food cannot be minimized. I could tell it was depressing; that's another critical factor to address. Given his current condition, would he want to be challenged by life with a feeding tube? And easily as important, how does your father feel about this?
8. The profile states he is depressed and has Parkinson's Disease. These two factors make me wonder if a feeding tube would accelerate either condition, causing more depression. How advanced is his Parkinson's Disease?
9. With hearing loss, are you still able to communicate with him? He would definitely need to be told what's happening, and why. His not understanding would be terrifying.
10. What are the predictions if he decides not to have a tube, possible for the rest of his life?
My experience with a feeding tube was post multiple physical complications, induced coma, slow recovery, dysphagia, and gradual weaning off the tube, over a period of several months. The prediction of the prescribing doctors was mixed: one said he was headed for the Pearly Gates; another said that he could heal and eventually return to normalh earing, but it was all very uncertain at that time.
11. You will likely need backup. I cleaned the tube, fed my father with the Nestle's ProBalance, then cleaned again, every 4 hours, then a bolus feeding at night. After 2 months I was exhausted from lack of sleep and changing my schedule to get things done only between the 4 hour breaks.
If I had to do it over again, I would have tried to find someone highly qualified to take over one feeding a day a few times a week so I could get more rest and get grocery shopping done. I doubt however that I could have found someone without extensive searching.
I did get help from a nurse, but it was b/c the care group I hired was top notch, from a hospital in an area known for its excellence.
12. Would my father or I do it all over again if we had to? Yes, but I would make a lot of back-up plans first, especially for the isolation and depression. We were fortunate that we could stay in my deceased's sister's home for the duration, closer to good medical care, and to a local branch of his church.
Friends from his own area visited him; one local member of the church in my sister's area took him to church, and visited. All of this was absolutely critical to healing.
13, Either a doctor, NP or someone at those levels, needs to sit down with you and your family,, & provide a good explanation of the need, what happens next, what options to support family care are available, & all other questions you can raise.
14. If your father is a Veteran, the VA may be able to help with home care.
Whatever your father & you decide, I wish you peace and solace in your lives.
Is there anything in writing that states what your father's wishes would be in this type of situation?
My mother made the decision to refuse a feeding tube for my father, because she knew he'd never want to live like that.
Does your father live with you? Or vice-versa? Are you the caregiver? Do you have POA/HCPOA?
What is your feeling about this?
Is this person demented and unable to make his own decision? Does he have an advanced directive? What does it say about this or what did this person discuss with his POA? Is there a POA? What condition necessitates this tube placement? Is this a temporary or a permanent need? What is the diagnosis and prognosis of this person?
I myself have already written into my advanced directive that I do not EVER want any artificial means of feeding whether gastrostomy or naso-gastric tube or TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and that I will never accept dialysis under any circumstances, nor intubation temporary of permanent.
What choices have doctors explained to the POA?
Like the other responders, I'm guessing your father is older than 54(which is what your profile says he is)with all of his issues. I would discuss it with him, and let him decide if it's something he wants, and go from there. And if he decides he wants it, then whoever cares for him, will have to learn how to feed him through it, along with caring for it as well.
Also make sure it's actually needed, as when my husband first had his massive stroke, and was unable to swallow, they talked me into having one put in him. And then about a week later, he started to be able to eat on his own, and they had to remove it. To me that was a waste of our money, and needless surgery for my husband who was already going through so much. So make sure you're getting all the information to make an educated decision. Best wishes.
I would only allow a feeding tube if it was going to improve and be removed. Because once it's inserted it hard to get it removed. If its being inserted to only give him more time, I may not allow it. This all depends on how far his Dementia and Parkinson's is. And his age.
Does your father want a feeding tube? That’s the first thing to consider.
Tell us a bit more, please.