SAFELY Enjoying Morning Tea

I recently reviewed some residents in an aged care facility and disability service at morning teatime. I was checking to see if they were still safe on their modified diets of mildly thickened fluids and a soft, bite sized foods. The tea lady was making her second round and asked one lady if she would like another cup of tea.

This was a resident in a beautiful setting; a heritage listed house that had been converted to an aged care facility. Morning tea was a social time for the residents and an opportunity to interact with the other residents. The lady I was seeing was one of three sisters, like myself in fact, and her two sisters were residents as well. They chatted animatedly. It was lovely to see.

Anyhow, back to the lady I was seeing. She did want another cup of tea which the tea lady prepared for her. It was prepared as a thin fluid, however. Thin fluids are dangerous for this resident; her swallowing ability had deteriorated to a mild degree and, as a result, swallowing thin fluids put her at risk of choking; of the liquid traveling to her lungs instead of her stomach. Of course, the tea lady did not have an understanding of this risk.

When I reminded her that this lady was on mildly thickened fluids, she said ‘She’s already had her thickened fluids today.’ I could see her logic, thinking the mildly thickened fluids were a bit like taking medication once a day for example. However, if a diet has been modified for any resident we need to adhere to that modification for every meal and fluid intake.

It highlighted for me the need for all disability and aged care staff to be familiar with an understanding of the swallowing mechanism and the best way to manage swallowing difficulties.

Easily update your knowledge at Safe Swallowing Education at www.safeswallowing.com.au