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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would never do this for my parent.  I would think quality of life over longevity.   Are you able to ask your parent about this? If not, put yourself in their situation and consider what they would want.  This is not at all a decision for a doctor to recommend.  My mom had early dementia.  When it was her time to go it was her time to go.  She had suffered more than her share. Please investigate hospice care. My mom was in it for 3 years.  [/quote]

OP here-I noted in my OP that Dad participates in his medical care and is interested in it, he is concerned about his weight loss and inability to gain (I eat, Doc, I can't seem to keep any weight on-he said). The anemia caused by the malnutrition is exhausting for him and treating it is hard on him (infusions and lots of blood draws).[/quote]

Before doing something so invasive, I'd get a second opinion.

Some elderly people are anemic, and not because they eat too little, but because they don't eat the right things. 
Others are anemic because they have small intestinal bleeds. This is what's happening to my MIL.

Also, take his complaints seriously, but with an informed viewpoint. Patients like him lose weight in the course of their disease, and there isn't a lot that can be done. They need to be kept moving, and have regular physical therapy. That also stimulates their appetite and helps manage constipation. Patients like him will be fatigued, in great part due to their medication for Parkinson's, and those can be tweaked.

I would askance at any doctor who jumps to gastric feeding for that profile of patient. Go see someone else before making that decision.[/quote]

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