Aug 06, 2021 · Last May 2021 my mother lost the ability to swallow due to a mini stroke. She then was fitted with a feeding tube in her stomach which she has adapted to very well but we have an issue with saliva in her mouth. She takes very little through the mouth other than the pleasure items like sherbet, ice cream, and jello .
The mix-up of feeding tubes has been a problem for decades. Hospitalized patients have a number of tubes connected to their bodies that may deliver medicine, food, blood, and fluids to numerous veins, organs, and arteries. The fact that most tubing is interchangeable makes it easy for mix-ups to occur.
Dec 14, 2021 · What You Need to Know About Feeding Tubes for Seniors with Dementia. Be able to make an informed decision about feeding tubes. Most people in the late stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia have trouble eating and drinking. They may lose weight, become weak, or develop pressure sores. Or, food particles could get into their lungs and cause pneumonia.
Jun 06, 2015 · You do, via the authority granted by her proxy. Have her taken to the hospital. You follow with a copy of the proxy. Present a valid proxy and request, insist, and demand that the feeding tube be removed. Good luck and God bless you and your mother.
The legal right to make care decisions for you If you have not given someone authority to make decisions under a power of attorney, then decisions about your health, care and living arrangements will be made by your care professional, the doctor or social worker who is in charge of your treatment or care.Mar 30, 2020
How to Get a POA for Elderly Parents in Good HealthTalk it through with your parent(s) At this point, you should have a better idea of what type of power of attorney would suit your situation. ... Consult with a lawyer. The laws governing powers of attorney vary from state to state. ... Document your rights. ... Execute the document.
Here are the basic steps to help a parent or loved one make their power of attorney, and name you as their agent:Help the grantor decide which type of POA to create. ... Decide on a durable or non-durable POA. ... Discuss what authority the grantor wants to give the agent. ... Get the correct power of attorney form.More items...•Jun 14, 2021
You can formally appoint a close friend or family member to be your medical treatment decision maker by completing a legal document . In the event that you cannot make decisions for yourself, your medical treatment decision maker will be obligated to act in a way that promotes your personal and social wellbeing.
You cannot give an attorney the power to: act in a way or make a decision that you cannot normally do yourself – for example, anything outside the law. consent to a deprivation of liberty being imposed on you, without a court order.
Do I need a lawyer to prepare a Power of Attorney? There is no legal requirement that a Power of Attorney be prepared or reviewed by a lawyer. However, if you are going to give important powers to an agent, it is wise to get individual legal advice before signing a complicated form.
Some types of power of attorney also give the attorney the legal power to make a decision on behalf of someone else such as where they should live or whether they should see a doctor. In order to make a power of attorney, you must be capable of making decisions for yourself.
AgeLab outlines very well the four types of power of attorney, each with its unique purpose:General Power of Attorney. ... Durable Power of Attorney. ... Special or Limited Power of Attorney. ... Springing Durable Power of Attorney.Jun 2, 2017
An ordinary power of attorney is only valid while you have the mental capacity to make your own decisions. If you want someone to be able to act on your behalf if there comes a time when you don't have the mental capacity to make your own decisions you should consider setting up a lasting power of attorney.Jan 13, 2022
proxyAgent: a designated person legally empowered to make decisions related to the health care of an individual (the declarant) in the event that the individual is unable to do so; also known as a proxy or surrogate.
Your parents can write their own advance directive, get a template from their physician, have a lawyer draw up the document, or get a form from their state's health department or department on aging.Nov 14, 2017
A health care agent is a person who will have the power to make decisions regarding your medical care with your doctors, including whether to limit or stop treatment.Jan 24, 2006
In a nursing home, a feeding tube may be recommended because it’s simpler and faster for staff to tube feed a person versus carefully hand feeding them. Of course, every person’s condition is unique and there may be situations where a feeding tube could be a truly helpful treatment for your older adult.
The feeding tube can be placed through the nose and down the throat or it can be placed through a small abdominal cut directly into the stomach.
Risks of using a feeding tube in late stage dementia. Like most medical treatments, there are pros and cons to using a feeding tube. They can sometimes do more harm than good, especially for someone in late stage Alzheimer’s or dementia.
For example, it can help when someone is recovering from surgery, stroke, or brain injury. Feeding tubes can also be helpful if people have ongoing problems with swallowing, but aren’t in the last stage of an incurable illness – like when someone has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) or Parkinson’s disease.
They may lose weight, become weak, or develop pressure sores. Or, food particles could get into their lungs and cause pneumonia.
This is a tough situation. However, if you have your mom's signed heath care proxy naming you as her agent, you have the answer in your hand. In her persistent vegetative state with the brain damage you describe she is not able to make her own decisions. You do, via the authority granted by her proxy. Have her taken to the hospital.
Given the potential criminal charges you could face if you remove your mother's feeding tube (e.g., homicide), you should consult with an attorney ASAP before taking any action. I am sorry that you are in this difficult situation.#N#More
I agree with Attorney Zelinger. This is sad and tragic and at this point it is irrelevant if you dad had legal right to override the AD.
This sort of thing is tragic but mostly depends on what the health care providers do and how they interpret things or how they choose to deal with conflict.
Your body needs nutrition to stay strong and help you live a healthy life. If you're unable to eat , or if you have an illness that makes it hard to swallow food, you may need a feeding tube. The tube is surgically inserted into your stomach and is used to give food, liquids, and medicines. Depending on why you need a feeding tube, you may have it ...
Caring for the tube. Keep it clean. That's the most important thing you need to know about caring for your tube. Flush the tube with warm water before and after feedings or giving medicines. You can use a syringe to push water through the tube. Clean the end (opening) of the tube every day with an antiseptic wipe.
Using the tube to take medicines. If you take medicines through your feeding tube, follow your doctor's instructions. Don't try to put whole pills in the tube—they may get stuck. Ask your doctor if liquid medicine is available, or if your pills can be crushed. Don't mix your medicine with the tube-feeding formula.
And the food needs to be the correct thickness so the tube doesn't clog. For most people, a milk shake type of formula that you can buy in a can works best for tube feeding. Your doctor or dietitian will help you find the right formula to use.