Case report--cooperation among medical staff to improve home enteral nutrition and increase hope in a patient with dementia

• Published in: Gan to kagaku ryoho Vol. 40 Suppl 2; p. 224
• Main Authors: Matsuoka, Mio, Hidaka, Kumi, Doi, Seiko, Hata, Akiko, Ibata, Takeshi, lijima, Shohei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Aged; Dementia - nursing; Enteral Nutrition; Home Care Services; Hope; Humans; Male; Patient Care Team
• ISSN: 0385-0684

Herein, we describe the case of a man in his 70s who had slight dementia. Because of dysphagia, the patient received enteral nutrition by gastrostomy. The patient wished to care for his wife, who had severe dementia and was also receiving enteral nutrition. He was later re-hospitalized for aspiration-related pneumonia. At this point, it was discovered that the management of enteral nutrition via gastrostomy was different from that at the time of discharge from our hospital. Nutritional management during home care may change for various reasons after discharge from hospital. If a change is identified at the time of re-hospitalization, this process should be confirmed. In addition, it is necessary that any changes in nutritional management should benefit the patient. In order to improve the home care of the present patient, we changed his diet to semisolid enteral nutrition that was easier for him to manage. This diet would also be beneficial for the aspiration-related pneumonia. Importantly, we shared these changes in enteral nutrition with all medical staff involved in his care. This included explaining changes in nutritional content, dose, and method of delivery.