To PEG or not to PEG? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva confront the clinical gray zones around percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placements in older adults.
They unpack what PEG tubes actually do (and don’t do), their potential impact on malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia, and how to talk to families and care teams when emotions and ethics collide. You’ll also learn how to interpret key research on PEG tube outcomes and what guidelines say about feeding tubes in dementia.
No guilt, no judgment—just smart, compassionate guidance from two SLPs who’ve had those hard conversations many times before.
You’ll learn:
What PEG tubes actually do—and what they don’t
The research around PEG tubes and aspiration pneumonia
How malnutrition, cognitive status, and goals of care intersect
Conversation strategies for talking PEG with families and teams
What professional guidelines say about PEG tubes in dementia
How to navigate tricky ethical ground without losing compassion
Articles Cited:
Rahnemai-Azar et. al. “Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: Indications, technique, complications and management
Freebies: PEG Tube Badge Buddy
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