Thousands of people are diagnosed with dysphagia each year. If you have recently diagnosed one of your patients with this condition, and you want to know how to support them, follow the advice below:
Refer Them to Speech and Language Therapy
Referring your patients to speech and language therapy is one of the most important things you can do for them. Speech and language therapists are highly trained in helping people with this condition. They not only help teach them the best techniques for swallowing food and drink, but they will also advise on the best foods to eat.
Ensure They Have a Good Support Network
Some people suffering from dysphagia need extra help to eat and drink safely. If this is the case for your patient, it’s essential to ensure they have a good support network around them to provide them with the care they need. For example, ensure they have carers or family members to help them at mealtimes.
Reduce the Amount or Size of Food
Once you have established that your patient has the proper support, the next step is to talk to them and their carers or family members about the food they eat. Most people with dysphagia struggle to swallow large pieces of dry food. As well as this, they may struggle to swallow liquids. To overcome this issue, you should advise your patients what the best foods to eat are and consider talking to them about purchasing a SimplyThick dysphagia solution to make liquids easier to swallow.
Advise Equipment for the Home
Some people with severe dysphagia may need to get some extra kitchen equipment, such as a hand blender, to puree their food. Of course, this will depend on how severe their condition is and the types of foods they are able to eat.
Discuss the Best Position for Eating
Over half of people with dysphagia eat their meals in bed; however, this is not advisable. Eating food and drink at a table is much better, as the upright position can help reduce the chances of choking.
Remember to Talk About Mouth Care
People with dysphagia are prone to suffering excess saliva or dry mouth or have food and drink residue remaining in the mouth. This can lead to poor oral health. Due to this, discussing mouth care with patients with this condition is essential.
Consider Their Mental Health
None of us like the idea of losing our ability to do the things we once could. This includes losing the ability to swallow. When someone loses this ability, they feel low and incompetent. Because of this, keeping an eye on your patient’s mental health after their diagnosis is essential. They may need counseling or other support to come to terms with their diagnosis.
Overcome Issues with Medication
The majority of people with dysphagia have other severe conditions. These conditions require them to take medication daily. However, it is extremely difficult to swallow tablets or other types of medication when you have dysphagia. Thankfully, there are ways around this. For example, tablets can be crushed or halved and added to food or given via a feeding tube if necessary.
If you’re supporting a patient with dysphagia, follow the advice above. This advice will ensure your patient gets the best treatment possible.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
