Powerlessness in Terminal Care of Demented Patients: An Exploratory Study
- 1 August 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
- Vol. 21 (1), 15-19
- https://doi.org/10.2190/j3h1-n66w-gqbj-menn
Abstract
Five caregivers in dementia care were interviewed about their ambivalent feelings toward spoon-feeding a severely demented patient. The caregivers were first inclined to recommend the use of a naso-gastric tube, but after a thorough discussion of the ethical aspects of this subject, they became more and more reluctant to use tube-feeding. Although tube-feeding was regarded as an easier way to provide nourishment, spoon-feeding was preferred because it provides more human contact and love. The act of spoon-feeding could be interpreted as a symbolization of love.Keywords
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