| Summary • Older folks have a higher risk of developing swallowing disorders and the health complications associated with them. • The signs and symptoms of swallowing problems are difficult to identify in people with dementia. • While there is no cure for swallowing problems, a speech-language pathologist can help. • Dietary adjustments and feeding modifications can help an older person cope with swallowing problems, while medical alert devices can connect them to emergency staff in their time of need. |
Is a Swallowing Problem a Serious Health Concern?
Being unable to swallow food and drink can be incredibly stressful for older people and the caregivers who look after them.
As our loved ones reach more advanced years, they should be sampling all their favorite foods— not struggling to eat.
Swallowing difficulties or swallowing disorders — also known as dysphagia — can cause severe long-term health problems, especially in aging adults who have a greater risk of developing the condition.
An older adult with dysphagia may be scared to eat or drink, and this can lead to dehydration, malnourishment, and weight loss.
If dysphagia worsens and no treatment is sought, the overall health of an aging adult will suffer. They will have a reduced quality of life and may try to avoid eating due to fear of choking.
In this article, we’ll explain which steps you can take to make aging adults with swallowing disorders feel safe and comfortable.
| Dementia and Dysphagia: What’s the Connection? Dysphagia currently affects 15 million Americans. It is a common condition in patients who already have dementia. Symptoms of dysphagia may only show up in the later stages of dementia, especially if the person is unable to communicate their swallowing difficulties to a caregiver. Dysphagia is not always recognized in patients with dementia, but if they cough or make a choking noise each time they eat, this is usually a sign. Constant drooling or bringing food back up may also indicate swallowing difficulties. |
What Causes Swallowing Problems in Older Adults?
Aging adults can experience swallowing difficulties for multiple reasons. Sometimes the natural aging process itself can cause swallowing difficulty — it is estimated that 20% of people older than 50 have dysphagia.
Swallowing disorders may also be caused by serious underlying medical conditions, or factors that can easily be removed or controlled.
If your loved has any of the following conditions, they have a greater chance of experiencing trouble swallowing:
- Stroke
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
- Brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS
- Head or neck injuries (or has had head or neck surgery)
- Obesity
- Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- Acid reflux or GERD
If your aging parent does not have any of the above conditions, but they still have difficulty swallowing, here are some other factors that may be causing their dysphagia:
- Wearing ill-fitting dentures
- Teeth that are in poor condition
- Certain medications, such as high blood pressure drugs
- Eating foods that are too coarse or dry
- Consuming too much caffeine or alcohol
How Can Swallowing Problems Affect Older Adults?
Occasional swallowing difficulty is not really a cause for concern, but it’s when an older adult has persistent swallowing problems that issues arise.
Swallowing disorders can affect older people on a physical, mental, and emotional level. Caring for a loved one with dysphagia can be frustrating, too, so the sooner you identify the problem, the better.
A loved one with swallowing problems may be affected in one or more of the following ways:
- They’ll have a sensation of food being stuck in their throat.
- Chewed food remains inside their mouth after they’ve swallowed.
- They cannot close their mouth properly, so food dribbles out.
- They experience pain when swallowing.
- Their voice sounds different after eating or drinking.
- They constantly clear their throat or cough during a meal.
- Eating habits change — for example, they will avoid certain foods.
- They no longer enjoy eating.
- They experience weight loss.
- They show signs of dehydration or malnutrition.
- They become increasingly isolated or show signs of depression.
- Eating and drinking cause fear and anxiety.
Dysphagia and Older Adults: What Are the Possible Complications?
Swallowing is a complex process and not being able to swallow correctly can cause complications, especially for aging loved ones who are also likely to have other health concerns or chronic conditions.
Being able to detect the signs and symptoms of dysphagia can help you protect your aging parent from future health complications.
Swallowing difficulties can have severe consequences, especially if an aging adult lives on their own or isn’t supervised when eating.
Dysphagia and choking
Choking and coughing are common symptoms of dysphagia.
Because people with dysphagia might not have proper control over one or more organs involved in the swallowing process, food and drink can easily “go down the wrong way” and block the airflow. This causes choking.
Research shows that choking deaths are more common in older adults with chronic diseases —like Alzheimer’s — and dysphagia.
So it’s incredibly important that an aging loved one with dysphagia is properly diagnosed, and that they are able to get help quickly during an emergency. Medical alert devices are important tools that will give an adult with swallowing difficulties peace of mind.
Malnutrition and fall risk
If older adults do not get the proper nutrients from food, they can develop vitamin, mineral, and protein deficiencies. This may cause dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, and impaired eyesight, balance, and judgment — all of which are fall risk factors.
It is estimated that around 5% of adults over 60 have muscle weakness and many of them are nutrient deficient, too.
The symptoms of existing malnutrition can worsen when adults have swallowing problems.
Early research suggests that people with malnutrition have a higher fall risk than those who follow a healthy diet.
Falls are the number one cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S. For information on how to fall-proof your home, read our fall prevention checklist article.
How to Keep Aging Adults with Dysphagia Safe
If you suspect your loved one has dysphagia, it’s important to get the condition diagnosed and follow the instructions of their healthcare provider.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) typically diagnose and treat dysphagia. Swallowing therapy may be used to teach your loved one a swallowing technique that works for them.
Once the condition is diagnosed, family members or caregivers will likely need to make adjustments to the way loved ones eat and also invest in certain tools to make life easier.
Eating adjustments
Swallowing therapy uses repetitive movements that will improve swallowing function, but additional changes in how an aging adult eats will go a long way to help keep your loved ones safe and comfortable as they advance in years.
Some adjustments you may be required to make include:
- Following a special dysphagia diet prescribed by your loved one’s healthcare provider, including foods like mashed potatoes and oatmeal.
- Pureeing fruits and vegetables before serving them.
- Making thin liquids thicker and adding moisture to dry foods.
- Crushing or liquefying solid foods for those who have trouble chewing.
- Supervising loved ones while they eat and watching for signs of choking.
- Seating loved ones upright before mealtimes.
- Serving smaller meals and finger foods.
- Being patient, loving, and encouraging during mealtime.
Medical alert devices
If you can be your parents’ full-time caregiver and personally supervise them at every meal, that’s wonderful. Not everyone is in a position to do this, though.
Many aging adults may rely on home health aides or need to feed themselves, because they have chosen to age in place. Medical alert devices are crucial tools for adults who don’t have 24/7 supervision.
People with swallowing difficulties have an increased risk of choking and falling, and they’ll need immediate medical attention if they suddenly can’t breathe.
LogicMark offers a selection of quality medical alert devices that can help your loved one contact emergency responders or caregivers when it matters most.
Our devices can be secured around the wrist, clipped onto a belt, or worn around the neck, so they’re always within reach. All your loved one has to do is press one button to instantly call emergency staff or another pre-programmed number.
We offer basic devices for those who require two-way communication, as well as advanced options with features like 24/7 monitoring.
Get in touch with us to learn more about how our devices can protect your loved ones who have swallowing difficulties.
