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hollymay Asked January 2019

How long can my mother live on a feeding tube? She has dementia and had a stroke.

She just lays there. She doesn’t talk. She has lost so much weight, and has bed sores.

Shell38314 Jan 2019
I just wanted to say, I am sorry that you and your mom are going through this.
I would get in touch with hospice if she is at home. She does have a right to have the feeding tube remove or you as a DPOA have the right to have it remove. It will be an uphill battle, but it can be done.

Best wishes. God bless you!

surprise Jan 2019
I would not allow a feeding tube in my Loved One. The person can be kept alive but can be absolutely miserable caught in their body unable to move. How sad. I would call hospice in and let them explain how the sensation of hunger would pass quickly and feeding while the body shuts down is painful. I'm so sorry you have to face this.

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JoAnn29 Jan 2019
Isthisreallyreal

My daughter is an RN. She explained it this way. She personally would not use a feeding tube on an elderly person. Like my Mom with Dementia at the age of 89. If you don't have one inserted its nature taking its course. Once inserted and then removed, its letting them starve so its hard getting it taken out.

Saying that, hollymay maybe you want to get Hospice involved. At that point they may remove the feeding tube.
Isthisrealyreal Jan 2019
Or it can be viewed as artificially prolonging life.

Whether never put in or removed it is all nature taking it's natural course.

Unethical to put a feeding tube in when the prognosis is terminal.
Isthisrealyreal Jan 2019
Is there any reason that the feeding tube can not be removed or does she have full code?

So sad when medical personnel will prolong the death of a body when the person is obviously gone.

I am so sorry that you have to travel this journey.

JoAnn29 Jan 2019
How old is Mom? Why was she put on a feeding tube.

againx100 Jan 2019
What a sad situation.

Where is she? I think this is really a question for her medical team. There are so many factors. It can be amazing how long people survive under conditions that would seem fairly impossible.

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