Feeding Tubes Offer Little Benefit

Dan Frith

Contributor

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We often see recommendations for the use of a feeding tube (PEG tube) from Medical Directors at nursing homes for residents who have difficulty eating and swallowing. Granted, an individual cannot long survive without adequate nutrition and hydration. However, the use of a feeding tube is often used as a substitute for an insufficient number of feeding assistants or nursing aides. By recommending feeding tubes, the nursing home keeps its payroll costs down...and its profits up!

Families now have medical literature and authority that feeding tubes offer little benefit to these types of residents.

A January 2008 article from the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association refutes the effectiveness of feeding tubes. Before discussing the article, keep in mind that the Administrator of your nursing homes is probably a member of the American Medical Directors Association...so don't let him/her tell you the article is not important!

The article notes that use of feeding tubes is widespread in the United States. But what is important is that there is little evidence to support the argument that the use of feeding tubes reduces the risk of death. Further, there is little to no evidence that feeding tubes reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, pressure sores, or infection.

The final point is this: If someone is recommending that a feeding tube is appropriate for your loved one...better make sure the facility is not just taking the easy (and more profitable) way out!