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I’m having a difficult time having mom eat a variety of foods. I'm offering her soft foods. Not sure if she is having a hard time swallowing? She doesn’t say anything when I ask her? Feeling frustrated !!!!
I used to cook/boil beef and chicken in savoy/seasoned broth until the meat was so tender it would fall apart, then cut it into about 1/4" sections for my father. Served it well moistened with the broth or a thin gravy. After Dad's diet became salt restricted, I used a lot of Herbox sodium free bouillons and added other ground seasonings (onion, garlic, basil, parsley, ginger, etc). Tomato sauce with a little water and the ground versions of the same seasonings you use in Parmesan chicken or spaghetti recipes gives the meat the same flavors. Most cheeses can be melted in the microwave with milk added to thin it down. Dad absolutely loved "soft parmesan chicken" made with chicken breasts boiled in a seasoned tomato sauce and covered with a thinned parmesan and mozzarella cheese sauce. Beef steaks cooked in mushroom soup becomes steak and a low fat gravy. To make a low sodium version, I cooked and pureed fresh mushrooms with some milk and corn starch to make the soup.
Sorry, I am back. I just remembered that Ensure has recipes for making such things a a pudding from the powdered form of Ensure. I tried it with Luz aand she seemed to like. Check their web site. It might even be able to puree with fruits, etc.
The Complete Breakfast is another possibility. Usually in the cereal section. How about cream of Wheat or Grits. Those may need to be thinned some. I wonder if breakfast cereals can be smashed up enough to be nearly liquid? Just a thought.
My mom has become picky too. She is 91 and I do all the cooking. Seems you are a bit more limited than I am with my mom though. I do agree with the suggestion of Ensure. Seems you need the full meal replacement Ensure. My mom loves the Strawberry higher protein Ensure. She is eating more regular foods than your mom at this point. Don't discount Ensure! You really need it or what ever brand her digestive system can tolerate well. There are often coupons in the Sunday paper for it. As far as cooking goes, and depending on if she has any problems with dairy, etc. there is a "Grandma's Chicken & Vegetable Rice Bake" by Stouffers that my mom used to love before she developed some dairy issues. Its rice based, cooks in the oven and is high flavored. I would buy "Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz" (in a can) slice it up and serve a slice with it. You can serve this when you don't want to cook, and chances are the rest of the family will enjoy it too. Hope this helps. Interesting to read about the swallowing test. Sounds like a good idea.
Is your mother eating anything at all? Will she drink the Ensure if she's offered that?
I'm not clear as to whether she's refusing certain foods, even though they seem appropriate, or plain refusing to eat. How long has it been a problem, either way?
Do you know what options there are if the person is already getting soft foods, thickened liquids? My LO, End stage, on hospice, hand fed, has started not swallowing her saliva. Just runs out of her mouth. She's likely not swallowing food well either.
Sunnygirl, suctioning can be done to prevent saliva from being swallowed. There's a machine with a suction tube that can be used, but only by the medical personnel. It's kind of like a vacuum cleaner for the mouth.
I've seen both hand suction and machine suction used. The hand suction is difficult and hard to watch. A tube something like a baster is inserted and the saliva is suctioned out, but I couldn't do it b/c it needed to be inserted close to the back of Dad's mouth, and I was concerned about poking or injuring him.
That was in the ER, when one of the nurses apparently didn't want to do it, telling me to do it. (She wasn't a good ER nurse!).
I'm sorry to learn that your LO has reached this stage and wish you, her and your family a peaceful transition.
Rita, I totally agree that a speech eval is appropriate, to determine if she has a swallowing "disorder" known as dysphagia. Our pulmonologist ordered them for my father, but he also had one while in rehab after having been intubated for several months. He was unable to swallow safety after that long illness.
The speech eval is painless, and is done in a speech pathology lab. The patient is given small doses of liquid and food and the speech pathologist observes whether or not the food is swallowed or aspirated into the lungs. This is important for future care.
There's a very good, thorough and detailed menu for dysphagia food. Depending on the level, liquids may have to be thickened, and some soft foods (such as ice cream) may be prohibited. (Ice cream is off the menu b/c it melts so quickly, but what I did was give my father just a few tablespoons at a time, then refresh with another few Ts.)
Bread might be out unless it's slathered with butter or applesauce (what my father used). The fact that your mother is showing a preference for soft mushy foods and not difficult to chew meats suggests that your mother could benefit from knowing exactly what level of dysphagia she has.
It's the safest way to go to avoid aspiration and aspiration pneumonia.
Ensure is a fully balanced meal, all kinds of good stuff in those. Maybe one a day with other things she likes. Applesauce? Cottage cheese? Creamy peanut butter?
CloudyRita its really important to get her tested. It’s a simple test. Your mom’s doctor might possibly order a speech therapist to come to her home. They can train you on techniques to help protect her from aspiration pneumonia.
I feed her eggs ,pudding and ice cream.Wheat bread and milk.She doesn’t like meat or chicken. Doesn’t like cold cuts .Only like soft mushy foods.Doc says give her ensure but I’m trying to feed her healthy food.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
It might even be able to puree with fruits, etc.
I wonder if breakfast cereals can be smashed up enough to be nearly liquid? Just a thought.
You can make sweet or savory smoothies to get nutrition in her if she doesn't like ensure. Tons of recipes on the internet.
I'm not clear as to whether she's refusing certain foods, even though they seem appropriate, or plain refusing to eat. How long has it been a problem, either way?
I've seen both hand suction and machine suction used. The hand suction is difficult and hard to watch. A tube something like a baster is inserted and the saliva is suctioned out, but I couldn't do it b/c it needed to be inserted close to the back of Dad's mouth, and I was concerned about poking or injuring him.
That was in the ER, when one of the nurses apparently didn't want to do it, telling me to do it. (She wasn't a good ER nurse!).
I'm sorry to learn that your LO has reached this stage and wish you, her and your family a peaceful transition.
The speech eval is painless, and is done in a speech pathology lab. The patient is given small doses of liquid and food and the speech pathologist observes whether or not the food is swallowed or aspirated into the lungs. This is important for future care.
There's a very good, thorough and detailed menu for dysphagia food. Depending on the level, liquids may have to be thickened, and some soft foods (such as ice cream) may be prohibited. (Ice cream is off the menu b/c it melts so quickly, but what I did was give my father just a few tablespoons at a time, then refresh with another few Ts.)
Bread might be out unless it's slathered with butter or applesauce (what my father used). The fact that your mother is showing a preference for soft mushy foods and not difficult to chew meats suggests that your mother could benefit from knowing exactly what level of dysphagia she has.
It's the safest way to go to avoid aspiration and aspiration pneumonia.
its really important to get her tested. It’s a simple test. Your mom’s doctor might possibly order a speech therapist to come to her home.
They can train you on techniques to help protect her from aspiration pneumonia.
What sorts of soft foods are you offering her?