An 89-year-old woman with severe dementia eats poorly and coughs during meals. She has lost 5 kg in 3 months and has recurrent chest infections. Her

Question

An 89-year-old woman with severe dementia eats poorly and coughs during meals. She has lost 5 kg in 3 months and has recurrent chest infections. Her daughter asks for a feeding tube because meals are slow and distressing. What is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Speech and language assessment with careful hand feeding and goals-of-care discussion

Answer

Prescribe long-term antibiotics for aspiration risk

Answer

Start high-dose antipsychotic to improve feeding

Answer

Stop oral intake until weight improves

Answer

Insert PEG tube as routine dementia care

Advanced dementia with dysphagia — DGM MCQ

An 89-year-old woman with severe dementia eats poorly and coughs during meals. She has lost 5 kg in 3 months and has recurrent chest infections. Her daughter asks for a feeding tube because meals are slow and distressing. What is the most appropriate management?