Ihave concerns about her ability to swallow . Any advice on what she can and cannot eat or swallow? i is a straw a safer way for to drink water and fluids?
What are you seeing now that indicates there is a swallow deficit? How long have you noticed this, and what is the exact dementia your Mom suffers from? Is she on a special mechanical soft or puree diet? Are fluids more problematic than solids? Is there any Parkinson's diagnosis?
As you can see, yours is a complicated question that requires real medical evaluation. Often your doctor can order a swallow evaluation consult and this can often be done by the PT/OT (OT) department. They will order further testing if required. This is something that must be individually and correctly diagnosed as the danger of aspiration of food into the lung is present in real deficits and can result in aspiration pneumonia and death.
There can in late stages be deficits so severe that you are down to having to decide whether tube feedings should be considered. I wish you the best. Speak to your mom's doctor.
The first thing I recall having to do for my Husband was to cut up his food pretty small. Often meals went to mostly finger foods Then it was on to pureeing his food. When I had to start thickening fluids it began as "nectar" thick then progressed to pudding thick. I also had to remove any "slippery" foods that might slide easily down the throat and possibly go into the trachea rather than the esophagus. Things like peaches, nectarines, plums and orange pieces. Anything that feels slippery. When you have to thicken liquids things like ice cream, popsicles, Jello and gelatin like things turn to liquid so avoid those things. Stick with puddings, custards, pureed fruit, yogurt with fruit mixed in. Breakfast became cooked cereals like oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice, (cooking an egg with the cereal that last few minutes gave him a bit more protein) yogurt. And since he slept more during the day breakfast was very often soup that I would puree.
Meats were the first thing that caused serious choking for us, as well as plain water. Some people caution against straws but my mom did well with them. We eventually needed to puree all her food and thicken her drinks to a milkshake like consistency.
If you'd some help planning her meals you may catch more eyes if you post a new question with that in the title.
What are you seeing now that indicates there is a swallow deficit? How long have you noticed this, and what is the exact dementia your Mom suffers from? Is she on a special mechanical soft or puree diet? Are fluids more problematic than solids?
Is there any Parkinson's diagnosis?
As you can see, yours is a complicated question that requires real medical evaluation. Often your doctor can order a swallow evaluation consult and this can often be done by the PT/OT (OT) department. They will order further testing if required.
This is something that must be individually and correctly diagnosed as the danger of aspiration of food into the lung is present in real deficits and can result in aspiration pneumonia and death.
There can in late stages be deficits so severe that you are down to having to decide whether tube feedings should be considered.
I wish you the best. Speak to your mom's doctor.
Then it was on to pureeing his food.
When I had to start thickening fluids it began as "nectar" thick then progressed to pudding thick.
I also had to remove any "slippery" foods that might slide easily down the throat and possibly go into the trachea rather than the esophagus. Things like peaches, nectarines, plums and orange pieces. Anything that feels slippery.
When you have to thicken liquids things like ice cream, popsicles, Jello and gelatin like things turn to liquid so avoid those things. Stick with puddings, custards, pureed fruit, yogurt with fruit mixed in.
Breakfast became cooked cereals like oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice, (cooking an egg with the cereal that last few minutes gave him a bit more protein)
yogurt. And since he slept more during the day breakfast was very often soup that I would puree.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/swallowing-disorders-tips-for-using-food-and-beverage-thickeners-208048.htm
She may also need her food modified to make swallowing easier.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dysphagia-how-to-help-a-loved-one-eat-and-drink-safely-187010.htm
Meats were the first thing that caused serious choking for us, as well as plain water. Some people caution against straws but my mom did well with them. We eventually needed to puree all her food and thicken her drinks to a milkshake like consistency.
If you'd some help planning her meals you may catch more eyes if you post a new question with that in the title.