Treatment And Management Of Dysphagia In The Elderly

Swallowing function can decline with age. Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulties swallowing or eating experienced by millions of Americans. According to researchers, about 15 percent of the elderly population experience some form of dysphagia (a common age-related problem). Unfortunately, even the mere act of swallowing food becomes a struggle for many older adults. There are many reasons older adults may experience dysphagia, and generally the symptoms may include frequent heartburn, pain when swallowing, chest pressure, choking or coughing when swallowing, drooling, unexpected weight loss, bringing food back up (regurgitation) and being unable to get foods or liquids down. Over time, the symptoms can become more severe.

It is important that you consult with a doctor if you regularly have difficulty swallowing, or if vomiting or regurgitation follows your dysphagia. In the United States, dysphagia affects an estimated 6 million seniors, which mainly occurs as a result of loss of throat muscles and weakening of mouth. 

Senior Sanctuary Of Anthem in Phoenix, AZ can work with your senior loved ones' doctor or dietitian to evaluate the best practices for dysphagia. Not only our staff can help prepare foods tailored to the situation, but also provide safe and reliable transportation to and from scheduled doctor's appointments.

Dysphagia Types:

Dysphagia generally falls into esophageal dysphagia or oropharyngeal dysphagia where the former occurs later on in the swallowing process, when food is unable to move down esophagus, whereas the latter occurs when someone cannot swallow because of problems in the mouth or throat. Sometimes the cause is unidentifiable.

Risk Factors and Complications:

Aging and certain health conditions, such as some neurological or nervous system disorders- are the major dysphagia risk factors. Difficulty swallowing can lead to malnutrition, dehydration and weight loss, choking, and aspiration pneumonia (liquid or food entering your airway when you try swallowing).

Ways to safely manage dysphagia at home:

1.      Healthcare providers recommend against using a straw, which may seem like a good idea on the surface, but straws are more likely to increase liquids' flow rate in the mouth. For someone who has trouble drinking, using a straw may not be feasible since that makes it harder for weakened muscles getting the liquid down, which may lead to choking.

2.      All water and drinks must be thickened for individuals who've been diagnosed with dysphagia. It might be time-consuming, which means you'll need to have a lot of patience when it comes to managing healthy hydration and pay keener attention.

3.      When it comes to taking medicines, the pills will need to be crushed up and mixed in with a thicker food like pudding. You need to be careful because some pills are labeled as "not to be crushed", so it's advisable that you talk with the pharmacist about the medications your senior loved one is taking. Crush pills only if there are instructions saying so, and avoid mixing them with anything specific.

4.      It can be difficult for someone with dysphagia to get adequate calories as well as vitamins and minerals. Try to incorporate whole foods and nutritional ingredients into a dysphagia diet. There are so many options to create delicious recipes that anyone will love, just look up the internet for that. Consult with a nutritionist/dietitian.

5.      Dysphagia patients should sit completely upright when drinking and eating, which helps food and drink go down most successfully.

6.      For people with dysphagia symptoms, experts recommend they eat and drink for short amounts of time spread throughout the day.

A dysphagia diagnosis requires a different form of caregiving, especially if you are managing care for an elderly patient who already has other chronic conditions. Consult with your senior loved one's doctor if you're worried about any difficulty swallowing or if you notice any dysphagia symptoms. Helpful tests and consultations are effective treatment measures to keep your older adult as healthy as possible. Doctors may recommend a combination of exercises designed to help recoordinate muscles used during swallowing and speech therapy. Surgery may also be required, feeding tube and a liquid diet might be recommended in more severe cases.