The nursing home did not supply an aide to feed her as this was obviously too costly. I can only imagine how many helpless residents are getting unnecessary feeding tubes. My understanding is that when a feeding tube is used, the nursing home is reimbursed at a higher rate. The rationale for the higher rate is that the resident requires more time and attention from the aides and nurses. In fact, the opposite is true.
Less time is required as the feeding tube patient is fed like a flower is fed water.
The facility gains in two ways. It receives more money and uses less aide time than if the patient was fed by mouth. Since I spent so much time at the facility, caring for mom, I saw things others did not. Patients were neglected. Some had to yell for someone to help them.