Tips to Help Elderly Eat without Choking
Has your elderly loved one been experiencing swallowing difficulties? Maybe, they have even choked already. If this is the case, it is crucial that you help them to eat without choking. There are many foods that may need to be cut up smaller or drinks that may need to be thickened. Hopefully, the tips that are noted here today can help you and your elder care services provider to reduce the chances of your senior choking when eating or drinking.
Elder Care in Glencoe IL: Senior Eating Safety
Proper Use of Medication
Does your elderly loved one choke when they take their medication? If this is the case, it may just mean that they need to start using a thicker beverage instead of water to take their oral medications. You or a home care provider may need to make your elderly loved one a smoothie or thicker juice, so they can swallow the pills without choking on them. If the doctor or pharmacist gives the okay to do so, your elderly loved one could crush the pills, so they are easier to swallow, as well.
Don’t Use Straws
Did you know that senior citizens are much more likely to choke when using a straw, then when they aren’t using one? The straw can be helpful in certain circumstances. However, when someone with dysphagia uses them, it increases the liquid’s flow rate into their mouth. This can cause them to have to swallow quicker and more often which can lead to choking episodes. It would be best if your elderly loved one drank straight from the cu
Keeping Hydrated
Did you know that when people become dehydrated, their esophagus and airways can become inflamed? This can greatly increase the chances of them choking. This is just one of the many reasons why you and elder care providers should remind your elderly loved one to stay hydrated.
Cut or Blend Up Food
If your elderly loved one is choking on food, it may be best to have yourself or someone who is offering personal care at home services cut up their food very small. In some instances, the food may even need to be blended up or pureed, as well. By making sure the food isn’t too big, you can greatly reduce the risk of your elderly loved one choking on it.
Skip the Sticky Foods
There are so many different kinds of sticky foods such as peanut butter, jello, rice, and more. The stickier foods can easily get stuck in your elderly loved one’s throat and cause a higher risk of choking. It is best if people with dysphagia or other choking issues just avoid the sticky foods altogether. If your elderly loved one insists on eating these foods, you might be able to loosen them up or water them down, so they aren’t as sticky.
Elder Care Conclusion
These are some of the tips to help your elderly loved one eat without choking. Now that you know about these tips, hopefully, your elderly loved one can eat and drink without having as many issues.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Glencoe, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6371116/
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