A woman with severe dementia develops painful oral candidiasis and markedly reduced intake. She has no prior swallowing disorder, and the team

Question

A woman with severe dementia develops painful oral candidiasis and markedly reduced intake. She has no prior swallowing disorder, and the team expects intake to recover after treatment. Which feeding plan best reflects NICE?

Accepted Answer

Treat the reversible comorbidity, maximise assisted oral intake and consider time-limited enteral support only if clinically indicated during recovery

Answer

Continue unassisted oral feeding alone because staff assistance is inappropriate when capacity is absent

Answer

Use parenteral nutrition first because oral candidiasis makes the gastrointestinal tract non-functional

Answer

Exclude all enteral support because severe dementia is an absolute contraindication even during a reversible comorbidity

Answer

Insert a permanent PEG immediately because severe dementia plus any reversible illness mandates enteral feeding

Dementia with dysphagia and malnutrition risk — SCE Geriatric Medicine MCQ

A woman with severe dementia develops painful oral candidiasis and markedly reduced intake. She has no prior swallowing disorder, and the team expects intake to recover after treatment. Which feeding plan best reflects NICE?