Many seniors can start to have trouble swallowing food and liquids at various times. This might be something that comes and goes for your elderly family member or it might be a more permanent issue. Trouble swallowing is also called dysphagia and it’s something that really cannot be ignored because of how it can impact your senior’s entire life. Here is some more information that can help you to recognize what’s going on, and how elder care can help:

Dysphagia Defined

Dysphagia is a condition that causes difficulty with swallowing. It’s something that mostly affects seniors, but it can affect anyone after an injury, stroke, or because of certain illnesses. People with dysphagia often choke on food or liquid and can accidentally aspirate food or drink into their lungs. This can leave them more likely to develop a form of pneumonia called aspiration pneumonia.

Symptoms of Dysphagia

Elder Care in St. Pete Beach FL

People with dysphagia often take a lot longer to eat than they used to or may not even be able to finish their meal at all. Your senior might experience a lot of coughing or gagging while trying to eat, because of the dysphagia. Often people with dysphagia find it so difficult to eat that they may avoid doing so, which can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and other health issues. It can be a serious health concern if no one is aware that there’s a problem.

Talk to Your Senior’s Doctor

If you suspect that your senior has dysphagia or your elderly family member mentions difficulty swallowing, talk with her doctor. There may be a cause for the condition that is treatable, and finding out sooner allows that treatment to also start sooner. Even if there isn’t a treatable cause, it’s important to have your senior’s dysphagia diagnosed so that her doctor can recommend a plan going forward that meets your senior’s needs.

Choose the Right Foods and Slow Meals Down

Soft foods or pureed foods can be much easier for someone with dysphagia to eat. Often fruits and vegetables are excellent choices for these methods, which is also highly nutritious. Eating quickly is a bad idea with dysphagia, so do everything that you can to make sure that your senior is able to take her time eating. If you notice that some foods give her more trouble than others, it’s best to avoid those in the future.

How Elder Care Can Help

Having elder care providers there with your senior can help her to feel safer when she eats. You’ll also know that there is someone there in case something happens. Elder care providers can also help to make sure that your senior has meals prepared for her and that she’s not experiencing swallowing issues or choking problems at other times. Staying hydrated is crucial, and caregivers can also watch to make sure that your senior is eating and drinking plenty throughout the day.

Dysphagia is a condition that your elderly family member can live with, but she does need to follow her doctor’s recommendations. Ensuring that she’s getting the right nutrition is also critical.

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Elder Care in St. Pete Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.