Very helpful article. My mother, now with advanced dementia, was "cheeking" her food. Her senior residence advised putting her on soft foods (baby food consistency). This worked, and she's been on soft foods for a year.

Great summary of dysphagia with some good tips. It's incredible how common this is and it can be very sad to see people who used to experience the joy of eating now approach it with stress and worry. Great tips in this article to help families!

Good article. I had the idea of making jello out of fruit juice or gatorade, etc and use the plain gelatin. My husband does chew most of the time and this allows for him to get some fluids in a thicker state. I use Thick it also but lately the jello works very well. He can cough with liquids if not thick enough. Just an idea.

Severe dysphagia may not always be indicative that hospice is appropriate, especially if there’s a specific causative factor, such as long term intubation.

As I recently posted, my father was diagnosed with dysphagia during rehab for dehydration, debilitation, anemia and pneumonia. At 97, many people might consider that, in combination with other medical conditions, indicative of the need for hospice.

Now, approximately 3 weeks later, Thick-It is no longer necessary. His speech pathologist D’C’ed that last week. She’s also stated he’s met and exceeded her goals and will be discharged soon. Gradually he’s seguing back to a normal diet.

A speech pathologist was part of rehab this time as well as in home care back in 2004 when severe dysphagia had developed during and post-intubation. She prescribed Shaker exercises which were the critical factor in resolving the dysphagia situation at that time. The current speech pathologist also prescribed them, as well as chin tucks while swallowing, and a level 2 National Dysphagia diet.

I would add that another speech pathologist, consulted post-stroke 11 years ago, advised to take small bites of food, completely swallow before putting anything else in the mouth, and take sips of water in between eating, rather than at the end of the meal.

I also want to support Ryba’s advice, and emphasize the importance of monitoring for weight loss and dehydration, which could be signs not only of dysphagia but other maladies. In my father’s case, they were indicative of dysphagia, but I didn’t make the connection, nor did any of his physicians. Had I been more alert, and more aware that dysphagia could occur for a third time, I might have made the connection earlier.

Senorita’s comment is very helpful. Stim therapy was used for my father during the 2003-2004 dysphagia episode, but I emphasize that it MUST and CAN ONLY be done by a qualified speech therapist. Lemon stims were used; the lemon on the tip of the stim as I recall provoked some type of swallowing reflex. These were used regularly by the speech therapist in the rehab facility.

And many thanks are due for Carol, not only for her recent advice but on bringing this issue current so that perhaps others can be helped as I was.

There is a treatment call VITA STIM where they use a device to cause stimulation to the muscles and has been very successful. unfortunately, couldn't find someone in my area to come to the house but you might google and find in your area.