Minimal Comfort Feeding in Advanced Dementia in the U.S.: Social Work Perspectives and Practice Implications

We are contuning our growing line of scholarship on minimal comfort feeding, with "Minimal Comfort Feeding in Advanced Dementia in the U.S.: Social Work Perspectives and Practice Implications," published today in the Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care.  

Some people diagnosed with dementia don’t want to live through dementia’s advanced stages. This article presents anew practice, Minimal Comfort Feeding, and contrasts it withMedical Aid in Dying (MAID), Voluntarily Stopping Eating andDrinking (VSED), VSED-AD (by advance directive), and ComfortFeeding Only (CFO). 

Also presented are results from a survey ofprimarily palliative social workers about their opinions regard-ing MCF. These social workers report potential benefits andchallenges with MCF. Practice implications include the need fororganizational protocols, staff education and training, as well asappropriate support for all caregivers involved.