Swallowing Disorders in the Elderly

When a senior is having trouble swallowing, known as dysphagia, doctors recommend thickening meals and drinks to avoid choking and aspiration. Use these tips to address dehydration and malnutrition issues in people who have a swallowing disorder.

With conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease and dementia, swallowing issues can develop that increase the risk of choking and aspiration pneumonia. Learn the signs of dysphagia and how to help a senior eat and drink safely.

Many seniors have trouble swallowing pills that are a key part of their health care plan. These two proven methods make taking medications and supplements quick and easy.

Dry mouth in the elderly is often caused by medications and can have a big impact on a senior's health. Talk to your aging loved ones doctor or dentist about any difficulty or changes in eating, tasting, swallowing, talking or denture retention.

Alzheimer's patients sometimes "forget" how to do automatic actions such as chewing, swallowing or eating as somewhat automatic actions become uncoordinated and ineffective.

Deciding whether to use a feeding tube is a complex matter, especially for older patients. Family caregivers should understand why and when tube feeding is appropriate in case they must make this choice for their loved one someday.

The slow and unpredictable progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias often makes it tricky for families and even doctors to determine when to bring in hospice. Use these guidelines to decide if a loved one is a candidate for end-of-life care.

A gastric feeding tube represents one way to nourish dementia-stricken elders who lose the ability to eat. However, research indicates that many doctors are not having discussions with caregivers regarding the pros and cons of feeding tube insertion.

Medication issues are common among seniors and can have several different underlying causes. Use these simple solutions to help an aging loved one consistently manage their medications and prevent dangerous mistakes.

Caring for aging family members throws many challenges our way. Explore strategies for helping an aging loved one with toileting, bathing, dining out, and navigating public outings as they become part of your regular care routine.

There are three main types of rehabilitative therapy for elderly people: physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

The most noticeable symptom of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is memory loss, but this progressive condition ultimately weakens the immune system and prevents the body from functioning properly. Complications like infections are often the cause of death.

The only certainty when diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is that a senior’s condition will progressively worsen. The national Alzheimer’s Association has developed a very useful staging system to use as a frame of reference when coping with AD.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that causes both motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. There are two main rating scales used to describe the stages of Parkinson’s and the symptoms to expect during each.

When seniors struggle to swallow their pills or refuse to take medicine at all, it’s sometimes necessary to get creative. In geriatric medicine, masking medication may be justified—especially for caregivers dealing with dementia.

The AgingCare.com forum is filled with people coming together to share valuable information. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best tips and suggestions for coping with dysphagia and drooling.

On its own, dementia doesn’t normally cause death. As it progresses, however, the condition can increase vulnerability to life-threatening infections.

Pharmacists and doctors play an important role in managing a senior’s medications. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ suggestions for working with a senior’s doctor or pharmacist to solve medication-related problems.

Elders with both physical and mental illnesses are incredibly vulnerable. Most of us understand that these two “sides” of health are connected, but even medical professionals sometimes struggle to provide whole-person care.

There is an entire set of literature about the topic of not feeding at the end of life. It even has its own acronym, VSED (voluntarily stopping eating and drinking).