Being careful when eating.

I completely understand concerned relatives of our elderly and disabled populations wanting everything to remain the same for them. We all like continuity. It keeps us at ease. Everyone has a lot to contend with as they navigate their body and health changing over time. Parents or carers of our disabled population face the same concerns. Many find themselves overwhelmed with a variety of health issues. The challenges also affect those caring for the loved one and the families as their own health changes over time.

When we, as speech pathologists, assess the swallowing function, we aim to keep the resident or loved one being cared for at home, on a diet that is as close to their present one as possible. Paramount in our minds too is, of course, the safety of the loved one.

As careful as anyone might be when eating or drinking, the vital part of the swallowing mechanism, is actually completely involuntary. Unfortunately, it just won’t matter how very careful we are eating or drinking, if your swallowing mechanism has deteriorated, that meal may well head straight to your lungs. Food or fluid shouldn’t go there. But sometimes it does! And it causes serious issues such as choking or an infection like pneumonia; these 2 incidents being amongst the top 3 causes of death for those with swallowing issues. Sorry to be blunt.

I recently spoke to a mother of a  young, disabled adult who also had swallowing problems. Careful assessment of this young lady’s swallow revealed the need to place her on a modified diet.. Her mother did not want a bar of it. She knew her daughter and had been feeding her her entire life and was 'careful'. I really felt for both the daughter and her mother. However, if the mother continued to feed her daughter her current diet, very, very serious consequences were likely to occur. 

As hard as it can be, it’s vital to accept the advice of a professional who knows the challenges for our Dysphagic residents.

Education about Safe Swallowing is one of the basic aspects of duty of care in the elderly and disabled populations. Learn more about cost effective, online, safe swallowing education. Take the Course