How to Assist the Elderly with Dysphagia
What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a medical term for when you have difficulty swallowing.
It can be an uncomfortable or even painful condition, with symptoms varying in severity. In some cases, the symptoms of dysphagia are mild – occasional difficulty swallowing can be an unpleasant feeling, but is normally caused by eating too fast or not chewing food well enough and generally isn’t cause for concern. However, ongoing dysphagia can be a serious medical condition with more complicated symptoms, and may require treatment.
See a healthcare professional if you regularly have difficulty swallowing or if you’re experiencing irregular weight loss, regurgitation or vomiting with your dysphagia.
If a blockage makes it hard to breathe, the NHS recommend you call for emergency help immediately. If you’re unable to swallow because you feel that food is stuck in your throat or chest, go to the nearest emergency department.
Some of the symptoms of dysphagia can include:
Swallowing pain
Inability to swallow
Heartburn
Regurgitation
Feeling of food stuck in the throat
Hoarseness
Drooling
Weight loss
Gagging
Stomach acid backing up into the throat
What causes dysphagia?
Dysphagia is typically caused either by certain medicines or an existing condition such as a stroke or acid reflux.
However, there are a number of other factors that can contribute to or cause dysphagia, through the weakening and damaging of the muscles and nerves involved in swallowing. People with certain health conditions or traumas, such as a stroke, head injury or dementia, can also be more susceptible to dysphagia.
Brain injuries
Conditions and injuries affecting your brain and nervous system, such as tumours, cerebral palsy, dementia and MS
Medicines
Certain medicines, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, chemotherapy agents and anticholinergics
Learning disabilities
Respiratory infections and difficulty with eating, drinking and swallowing are common in people with learning disabilities
Cleft lip and palate
A cleft lip and palate in babies may cause swallowing problems in different phases of the swallow and different types of dysphagia
Heartburn and acid reflux
This is more likely to be the cause for children or people who are living with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Breathing problems
Problems with breathing caused by conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Tips on Assisting the Elderly to Eat
Elderly loved ones are particularly at risk of swallowing difficulties, due to natural aging and wear and tear on the oesophagus and a higher susceptibility to Parkinson’s or a stroke. Although swallowing difficulties can’t be prevented in most instances, you can reduce your risk of occasional swallowing difficulty by ensuring all food is chewed thoroughly and eaten slowly. This might include having someone chop food up into small pieces, or even consuming some foods in liquid form.
Depending on each individual’s swallowing problems, some people will require a completely soft textured or a puréed diet. It is essential that expert advice is sought in order to ensure the food is an appropriate texture. Use of specialist equipment such as adapted spoons, plates and cups might also form part of a strategy for countering dysphagia.
How Helping Hands can help
Helping Hands have over 30 years’ experience in providing specialist, nurse-led support to people with clinical care needs.
If you’re worried that an elderly loved one is struggling to swallow or keep food down and is experiencing some of the symptoms of dysphagia, the support of an expertly-trained visiting care or live-in carer can make a big difference.
Helping Hands carers provide sensitive, hands-on care, fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales. A carer can take steps to help a loved one manage the symptoms of dysphagia, such as chopping or blending foods, helping with feeding tubes, accompanying them to medical appointments, and calling for emergency medical care in case their condition escalates. Get in touch with our friendly team today to find out more about how we can help.