I have been to visit my mum in her nursing home today and have now been told that she is not having tea (thickened) anymore as will not drink it. Instead they are giving her blackcurrant juice which is thickened (to an almost syrup style). I helped give this to Mum (off a spoon as instructed) but noticed after every couple of swallows she started coughing everytime and went red in face and I could hear a loud chest noise/heavy breathing going. I asked was this normal and just told this is how it is now with your Mum. My question is which did not get answered is this the swallowing reflux getting worse and will it keep getting harder for my mum to swallow with this regular pattern of coughing after it. She is approaching her 5th year of vascular dementia and I have been told mum in last/severe stage (immobile, doubly incontinent, liquid meds, very odd word speech, glazed look, sleeping more but not end of life except I have to keep signing this end of life paperwork at nursing home? She is not frail her weight seems to have maintained but to me does look physically different especially her face which is more hollow and drawn now. Thank you for reading and any feedback much appreciated because I don't always have anybody else to speak with who will understand. xx