I have a resident who turned 102 today. She has no children and her Power of Attorney is a  niece (who I have never once seen visit her). She went to the hospital a couple weeks ago with a BUN of 101, which is extremely high. To make a long story short, she returned with a PEG tube. We are all just sickened by this. A feeding tube going directly into her stomach to pump "nutrition" into her.
 The reason the niece did this? She said that the resident told her once "I love life." Yes, but who knows how long ago that was, and what does loving life include? Being force fed when you are over a century old?
I read the paperwork from the hospital readmission notes. There was an ethical committee meeting to consider the morality of placing a feeding tube in a person of this age and condition. She also has very bad skin breakdown,  Stage 4 and beyond pressure ulcers due to age.
The notes were appalling. The doctors concluded that she was "a relatively healthy 101-year-old who enjoyed eating" and that placing a feeding tube could "help with wound healing."
And today, on her birthday? She did receive a bouquet of roses, from the Nursing Home, which she couldn't even open her eyes to enjoy, let alone inhale their fragrance. And from her beloved niece? Nothing.