Why does my mother forget to swallow liquids?

Thanks for the responses everyone. They are very helpful. I'm so happy to have found this site as a resource.

Rehab tried that apple sauce thing with crushed pills. HA! Could not fool my wife. She would swirl that stuff around in her mouth until she had found all of the crushed particles of the pill and spit them out.
I finally had the nurse tell her the pills were her vitamins.
Now she is holding water in her mouth but not her soda. Even if I tell her to swallow, it takes a few seconds to follow instructions. Currently I am just watching her to ensure she does not choke. I intend to discuss this with her doctors.
Sorry I can't be of more help

I wonder if your mother has lost the reflexive pharyngeal swallowing? Check with her physician.

It is possible that she can not "feel" a thin liquid.
Actually it is almost better since her delaying swallowing delays the aspiration that often happens when the body does not recognize thin liquids.
You can ask for a swallow test or you can get a product like Thick-It and thicken liquids like water, juice broth and the like.
Do know that Thick-It does not work with Benifiber the liquid stays thin so if a product like Benifiber is being used it will have to be put in a thicker food like a pudding, soup, pureed vegetables or meat.

My DH has Dysphagia and I must use Thick-It and Hormel Thickening powders. The Hormel works better in soda but the Thick-It is for any other liquids.

For pills, the only way DH will take them is in Ice Cream. This was started 2 years ago in the hospital and I just continue as he likes the ice cream. He is 96.

My mom had this but in her last stage of Alzheimers. I would have a small baby spoon of the applesauce that comes in the packets ready for her. For some reason she could swallow the applesauce but the water she had a problem with. Lots of medicines come in liquid form or can be crushed with a small amount of liquid and administered with a syringe followed by the applesauce. Good luck.

Thank you Grammyteacher. It is helpful to have a name for it. I will talk to her Dr. about it.

This is called a delayed swallow. My mom has this too but she is in stage 7 Alzheimer's. You should discuss this with her doctor and perhaps have a swallowing evaluation done by a speech language pathologist.

Admit defeat i have no idea why she does this except from memory loss.