You’ve explored senior living in Lutz, FL, and found a place that you think would be perfect for your loved one. You need to know if the community can help them with their medical issues. If your older parent or relative has swallowing difficulties, you may wonder if they can receive assistance in this particular community. The good news is that most senior-friendly independent living communities have staff members who can assist residents with eating, drinking, and other daily activities as needed. These services are often included in monthly fees, so there’s no additional charge for this support.
What Causes Swallowing Problems In Elderly?
Swallowing problems can affect anyone, but the elderly are especially at risk. Dysphagia is the most common digestive disorder among aging family members.
The cause of dysphagia can be primary or secondary. Primary dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that results from impairment in any part of the swallowing process, including:
- Initiation of swallowing (getting food into your mouth)
- Transport of food to the oropharynx (the back part of your throat)
- Pharyngeal phase (lower esophageal sphincter opening)
- Laryngeal phase (laryngopharyngeal reflex).
Signs And Symptoms Of Difficulty In Swallowing
It can be challenging to determine when a loved one has difficulty swallowing. As the person begins to experience swallowing difficulties, they may start to show signs such as:
- Less appetite or loss of appetite
- Loss of weight (or not gaining weight)
- Difficulty swallowing food and liquids
- Pain when swallowing
If you notice any signs that your parent or loved one is having trouble swallowing, it’s essential that you take them seriously and seek medical attention immediately.
Effects Of Dysphagia On The Health Of the Elderly
Dysphagia is a condition that affects swallowing, which can be caused by conditions like stroke or Parkinson’s disease. When you have dysphagia, you may experience difficulty swallowing food or drinks and may require liquid supplements to help you get enough nutrients and hydration.
The most common effects of dysphagia include malnutrition and dehydration; when you have trouble swallowing your food properly, it can become harder for your body to absorb the nutrients from food. This can cause weight loss over time that persists even after treatment has been initiated. Other effects include aspiration pneumonia (breathing food into the lungs) and depression—these are both severe health conditions that should be taken seriously by anyone experiencing them!
Eating Tips For People With Dysphagia
Here are some tips for eating safely:
- Eat small bites. Chew each bite thoroughly and try to eat slowly.
- Avoid hard-to-chew foods, like raw vegetables and fruits. Cook them soft or puree them using a blender or food processor.
- Avoid hard-to-swallow foods, such as whole nuts and seeds (with the exception of peanut butter), popcorn, meatballs and meatloaf, hot dogs, sausages/burgers with chunks of onion/pepper/garlic, as well as high fiber cereals that contain oats or nuts in large chunks (like granola).
- Use a straw when drinking liquids that are thickened by adding extra liquid or thickeners such as cornstarch into hot water already made in small quantities (using the microwave). This allows you to swallow more quickly than drinking directly from a glass without any liquid added at all, which may cause choking because there is nothing there to lubricate the throat while swallowing, so it dries out quickly, causing discomfort causing, coughing etc.
Conclusion
If your elderly loved one is struggling with swallowing difficulties, it can be very helpful for them to move into a senior-friendly independent living community where there are team members who can help. Asking about assisted living services when you tour the facility will give you an idea of how much care they’re able to provide and if it’s right for your situation.
