When seniors are diagnosed with dysphagia, they have trouble eating, drinking, or even taking medication. This condition is a common medical problem and can greatly affect their quality of life. Their difficulty might be due to changes that come with age or underlying health problems. For seniors to learn how to handle their condition, they need the help of personal care at home providers and loved ones.
How Can Personal Care at Home and Loved Ones Help Seniors With Dysphagia?
Helping seniors with dysphagia needs a multidisciplinary approach that includes healthcare professionals, personal care at home aides, and the seniors themselves. The first step in helping seniors who have trouble swallowing is to figure out the root cause. This is usually done with the help of a clinical review by a specialist in swallowing disorders, like a speech-language pathologist or an otolaryngologist. A throat evaluation, imaging tests, and a medical history review can all determine what’s wrong.
Depending on how bad the dysphagia is, a doctor or nurse may suggest changing the consistency of food and liquids to make eating safer. This can mean pureeing or chopping food or thickening liquid to decrease the risk of aspiration. Dietitians and speech-language pathologists can help seniors figure out what changes to make and how to keep their food balanced and enjoyable. Once they receive advice on a treatment plan, their personal care at home can assist them in making changes.
Additionally, there are some techniques for eating that can help seniors who have trouble swallowing do so in a safer and more effective way. Some of these methods are taking smaller bites, chewing well, sitting up straight while eating, and taking small sips of water often to help with swallowing. This can be difficult for seniors who’ve never paid attention to their eating habits before.
Adaptive tools and utensils can also help seniors who have trouble swallowing. This includes special cups or straws to control liquid flow, modified tools with bigger handles or different shapes, and plate guards to keep food from spilling. Personal care at home aides can help seniors find the right adaptive tools and support their learning of how to use the aids.
Lastly, seniors with dysphagia may find it hard to swallow pills. When this happens, they might consider skipping their medication. Obviously, this is not the optimum choice. Instead, personal care at home aides can encourage them to talk to their physician about other ways to take their medicine, such as liquid forms or other routes of administration.
Treatment for Dysphagia
There are several ways to help seniors struggling with dysphagia. In addition to the above methods, the following may also be used:
Therapy for swallowing: Speech-language pathologists can give seniors exercises and treatments to help them swallow better, build muscle strength, and improve their coordination.
Medication: Depending on what’s causing the Dysphagia, certain medications can be given to help control the symptoms or treat the underlying conditions that make it hard to swallow.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be needed to help people who have trouble swallowing because of anatomical problems or tightness in their throat or stomach.
It’s important to understand that preventing dysphagia might not be possible, but if seniors stay hydrated and eat a varied diet, it might help. Regular checkups for any underlying health problems are also essential for proper treatment and care. Seniors can thrive by using resources, getting support from personal care at home, and making any necessary changes.
Sources: https://dailycaring.com/7-helpful-tips-for-seniors-and-caregivers-managing-dysphagia/
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30902-2/fulltext
If you or an aging loved one are considering Personal Care at Home Services in Milan TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (731) 300-2300
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Jackson, Humboldt, Medina, Milan, Trenton, Brownsville, Madison County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
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