An Older Patient with Alzheimer's Disease Has a Feeding Tube

question 14

Multiple Choice

An older patient with Alzheimer's disease has a feeding tube. The family wants to know if the patient will ever be able to eat solid food again. What information should the nurse include when responding to this family's question?

• A) The dietitian will decide if this can be done.
• B) It depends upon the patient's functional eating abilities.
• C) This can be done but the feeding tube has to be removed first.
• D) In the patient with dementia, the restoration of natural feeding is highly unlikely.

---

Definitions:

External Attribution

Refers to the process of attributing a person's behavior to external factors, such as the situation or environment they are in.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personality-based explanations for behaviors observed in others while underestimating the role of situational factors.

Attributions

The process by which people explain the causes of their own and others' behaviors.

Social Relations

The interactions and relationships between individuals and groups within societies.