Me, I would talk to the DON and ask if the choking has been brought to her attention. She is the one, or one of the RNs, that should have called the Doctor and ordered a swallow eval. Then the dietician makes sure Mom is given the correct diet. There are usually aides helping during meals. IMO they should have reported a choking problem to the RN. If Mom can't feed herself, an aide should be.
You may want to have her Dr. order a swallowing evaluation, to determine if the food she's eating is going into her lungs instead of her stomach. If her food is going into her lungs, it can cause aspiration pneumonia, which in many cases can be deadly. In the meantime though, I would request that the nursing home only give her pureed food and thickened drinks just to be on the safe side.
My husband who had vascular dementia, developed aspiration pneumonia and almost died in 2018. The Dr. in the ICU said that because he had dementia, that his brain was no longer telling his throat to close, thus allowing his food and drink to go into his lungs. He had to remain on thickened drinks, and pureed and eventually soft foods until his death in 2020.
I wish you and your mom the best in getting to the bottom of what's going on.
At some point her foods will need to be pureed if they are not already. And she will need to have her liquids thickened. I suggest that you request the doctor see her and place the order for pureed foods and thickened liquids. If mom is on Hospice talk to the Nurse that visits and they will quickly see that the changes are made. They should monitor any and all residents that have "problems eating" this goes from not being able to feed themselves to people that may choke. And there should be staff assigned to help those that need it. If this is not being done a phone call to your States Ombudsman to file a complaint will result in an inquiry and hopefully a resolution
Your mother should be monitored for choking complications. Her doctor should order the appropriate tests to determine the problem. Patients with dementia are at high risk. I would speak to the director and have her arrange a consultation with the doctor . Meanwhile she should be on pureed foods and thickened liquids until the test is performed. A staff member should always be present monitoring the patiient. My mother has a swallowing delay and is on pureed foods and thickened liquids with her being elevated 90 degrees with her meals, snacks or liquids. A person can choke to death. i would get on this immediately. and If she does not get appropriate care and treatment move her to another facility where she will get the care she needs and deserves.
In the meantime though, I would request that the nursing home only give her pureed food and thickened drinks just to be on the safe side.
My husband who had vascular dementia, developed aspiration pneumonia and almost died in 2018. The Dr. in the ICU said that because he had dementia, that his brain was no longer telling his throat to close, thus allowing his food and drink to go into his lungs. He had to remain on thickened drinks, and pureed and eventually soft foods until his death in 2020.
I wish you and your mom the best in getting to the bottom of what's going on.
And she will need to have her liquids thickened.
I suggest that you request the doctor see her and place the order for pureed foods and thickened liquids.
If mom is on Hospice talk to the Nurse that visits and they will quickly see that the changes are made.
They should monitor any and all residents that have "problems eating" this goes from not being able to feed themselves to people that may choke. And there should be staff assigned to help those that need it. If this is not being done a phone call to your States Ombudsman to file a complaint will result in an inquiry and hopefully a resolution