What You Need to Know

EATING RIGHT

Whether the person you care for is on a special diet or not, it may be helpful to plan meals a week ahead. Include the person you are caring for in the planning process, so that you can learn their food likes and dislikes.

Planning ahead gives you time to buy the foods you need to have on hand to make the meals you have decided upon. This helps you better plan to have the right foods at hand and in a variety that will make meals interesting, appealing and within the person’s budget. If possible, spend time with a dietitian to guide you in planning meals.

This is very helpful when the person you care for is on a special diet.

Food Tips from the USDA (2013)

The United States Department of Agriculture has tips for healthy food choices and ways to manage your diet.

Balance calories – find out home many calories a person needs for a day so you can plan meals
Enjoy meals but eat less.
Do not eat oversized portions. Use a smaller plate, bowl and glass. Do the same when you eat out or take home part of the meal
Eat calcium rich foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified soymilk.
Eat 5 to 7 ounces of protein foods each day (1 ounce equals ounce lean meat, poultry, or seafood; 1 egg; ¼ cup cooked beans or peas; ½ ounce nuts or seeds; or 1 tablespoon peanut butter.
Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables (red, orange and dark-green foods like sweet potatoes and broccoli)
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk – you will get the same amount of calcium and other nutrients, but less saturated fat
Make half your grains whole grains such as whole wheat instead of white bread, brown rice instead of white rice
Each these foods less often: cakes, cookies, ice cream, candies, swee ened drinks, pizza and fatty meats. Eat these foods only as treats, 1 or 2 times a week
Always read food labels and choose low sodium options. Select canned foods labeled “low sodium” or “no salt added”
Drink water instead of sugary drinks

WHEN A PERSON CANNOT FEED THEMSELVES

Most of us eat without help. However, when people are ill, their condition sometimes causes fatigue and keeps them from being able to eat. Injuries and problems with swallowing can also limit what people can do when they try to eat or feed themselves.

This is common in people with:

Ill fitting or damaged dentures
Infection or injury to the mouth
Diseases affecting the ability to chew or swallow certain types of thickness of food.
Head and neck surgeries
Injury to the arm and hand
Poor coordination of the arms and hands
Paralysis
Generalized weakness and serious fatigue
Serious dementia
Very poor vision

A person who needs help to eat requires your patience and understanding. Let the person you are caring for do as much on his or her own as possible. Do not take over feeding completely if a person can partially feed him or herself. Mealtime should be a pleasant, unhurried time and kept simple.

ASSISTIVE DEVICES

Two handled cup with spout in lid

Makes it easier for a person to hold and lift a cup. The spout makes drinking easier with fewer spills. Most of these cups have a wide base which prevents them from tipping over.

Plate with plate guard and non-skid bottom

Helpful to a person with limited flexibility of the hands, poor motor coordination, or has use of only one hand.

Knife, fork and spoon with large handles or attached splints

Helpful to a person with limited hand function or a weak grip.

Rocking style knife

Helpful for a person with weak grasp, arthritis, or other painful condition in the hands and wrist. Rocking motion of knife makes it easier to cut food.

SIGNS OF DYSPHAGIA

Any of these signs can mean a person has dysphagia:

A wet sounding voice
A change in voice
A weak uncontrolled cough
Gagging, coughing or choking on food
Taking a long time to swallow
Having pain when swallowing
Having food or liquids come back up though the throat, mouth, or nose after swallowing
Having pain or pressure in the chest or heartburn
Pocketing of food in the mouth
A slow, weak or uncoordinated speech

Talk with a Dietitian - If you believe the person you care for has dysphagia, talk to their doctor.

Ask to speak with a dietitian. A dietitian is trained to identify persons at risk for swallowing problems. Once the problem is identified, the dietician will be able to pick the best type of diet with proper food and liquid consistencies.

For example, a dietitian can decide if the person will do best with a pureed or a mechanically altered diet. Liquid or pureed (pudding like) foods are often used for people who cannot chew solid or semi-solid foods or for people with certain types of dysphagia.

There are a variety of dysphagia diets, but do not choose one on your own. Let a trained dietitian be your guide.