My 83 yr old mom has trouble swallowing her food. Any suggestions?

I don't know if this is an impossible fix but "nothing beats a failure but a try!" I know a woman who was expected 3 years ago of not living long due to this swallowing problem, she suffers with Alz. .... She has a wonderful daughter who came up with this recipe... Ensure,mixed with ice cream, and cooked oatmeal, and blue berries all blended and refrozen. At this point sometimes she gives her Mom ice cream with chocolate syrup. Love and a very pleasant atmosphere and 24/7 attention and a young Grandson that reads to her in bed every night too!!! It is truly amazing!!!

I logged onto your post but see Jeanne has written exactly what i was going to post...good idea!! lol I do x-ray and have assisted the speech pathologists on the swallowing study and it is such a great test. They will be able to tell you what consistency she can swallow and then help you with a diet that will allow her to get her nutrition. Good luck!

Well, "she's old" doesn't cut it for this. My 92-year-old mother has no problems whatsoever with swallowing, Neither does her 97-year-old sister. My 86-yer-old husband wiht Lewy Body does. It has nothing to do with age. Insist on a swallowing test, which will probably be conducted by a speech pathologist.

Thanks so much. We are for sure making an appt. but I just get the same answers from her dr "she's old" Thats another chat haha :)

Her doctor could order a swallowing test, which would pinpoint the nature of the problem. Then various strategies would be suggested, along with, perhaps, dietary suggestions. Swallowing problems are very common in Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson's Disease, and probably a number of other conditions. They can contribute to poor nutrition and also increase the risk of pneumonia, as food particles can get into the lungs.

We go through a lot of applesauce! Also pudding, mashed potatoes, non-chunky soups, baked acorn squash, and similar foods.

Some of the strategies that were recommended to us include only eating sitting up straight, tucking the chin down, and double-swallowing. That is one bite, two swallows, the next bite, two swallows, etc.

You can buy a product in the drug store for thickening liquids so they go down more slowly and are less likely to leak into the airway.

I don't think that it would hurt to try any of these things, and if they help, keep it up. But I still recommend talking to the doctor about a swallow test.

Good luck!

Yes my mom it's like a web in throat take to oncologist to get throat ballooned