On a hot summer day, there is nothing more satisfying than a tall, cold drink; however, for a person with dysphagia, this simple pleasure can be dangerous. Dysphagia – or trouble with swallowing – impacts millions of seniors, as a result of weakened mouth and/or throat muscles. Cancer, Alzheimer’s, MS, and stroke are typical culprits as well.
Indications of dysphagia include:
- Drooling
- Coughing, gagging, or choking when drinking, eating, or taking medications
- A gurgling sound in the senior’s voice after eating/drinking
In addition, if you suspect dysphagia in a senior family member, ask them the next questions – and check with the doctor right away for further guidance:
- Are you coughing or choking when trying to eat or drink?
- Are you having frequent problems with food “going down the wrong pipe?”
- Is food getting caught in your throat?
- Is it taking you longer to eat food than it used to?
- Have you been losing weight?
If you’re caring for a loved one with dysphagia, keep these tips in mind:
- Make note of posture. Ensure that the older adult is sitting completely upright, at a 90-degree angle, before attempting to eat or drink.
- Avoid the straw. Straws speed up the rate at which the liquid enters into the mouth, which can cause choking or aspiration.
- Thicken liquids. Most pharmacies sell thickening gels or powders that should be added to all fluids for anyone with dysphagia. However, avoid serving ice cream and jello, which change from their thickened form to a liquid in the mouth.
- Keep nutrition in mind. Good choices for dysphagia-friendly foods include yogurt, pureed fruits, pureed veggies, pureed lentils, and pureed beans, avocado, soft cheese, and creamy nut butters. Discover some easy dysphagia-friendly recipes here.
- Consider prescription drug administration. Washing down pills with thickened liquid can be challenging. Talk with the prescribing doctor and/or pharmacist to see if medications can be crushed and mixed with applesauce or pudding to help them go down easier.
- Timing is everything. The fatigue that accompanies a chronic medical condition that leads to dysphagia can make it tough to drink or eat for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. Try to plan meals around the times when your loved one is least tired, and have thickened drinks available throughout the day to ensure hydration.
Compassionate Care Home Health Services is available to help plan and prepare healthy meals and thickened beverages for a loved one with dysphagia, and we will even pick up all the ingredients, too! Contact us online or at 877.308.1212 for more information about our Mid-Michigan home health and hospice services and elder care in the surrounding areas.