
Pages Home About Videos Links Tweets Tuesday , July 12, 2011 Decisions on Feeding Tubes in Advanced Dementia There is probably no one disease that so fully encompasses the intersection between geriatrics and palliative care as does advanced dementia There is a high prevalence of distressing symptoms such as pain and dyspnea , which only become more common as the disease progresses . There is significant functional decline , caregiver distress , and great need for advanced care planning . There is also a very high likelihood that individuals with very advanced disease will undergo burdensome interventions that offer little evidence of benefit . A great example of one intervention that offers little in the way of benefit and yet is commonly performed in advanced dementia is the feeding tube