Recipe ideas?

totallyconfused

Registered User
Apr 18, 2016
435
0
So my mother is having difficulty swallowing. She was referred to speech therapist a good while ago but they wrote back to GP yesterday looking for more information.GP was annoyed as she wouldn't refer if it wasn't necessary and that they could have spoken to us at the appointment about her eating habits.

The consultant said don't give water, or things at room temperature-hot or cold, give things like mashed potatoes, eggs,yoghurt. He said remove things like toast, biscuits.

GP said remove ice cream, yoghurt fine

She coughs after certain foods and tea. Trying to work out and remove as necessary.

Any tips or rcipes that you find have helped?
 

Canadian Joanne

Registered User
Apr 8, 2005
17,710
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70
Toronto, Canada
My mother coughed a great deal after water particularly. We did start using thickeners in her liquids eventually.

As for foods, yes, certain things like rice were removed as too easy to choke on them. Mum was in a nursing home when her diet changed so it was easy for us. I did have to deal with my dreaded aunt, who thought that bringing in 3 lbs of cherries would be alright because "they're organic". Pointing out they had pits meant nothing. :rolleyes:

I would think anything with a lot of crumbs or texture would be contraindicated.
 

canary

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
25,018
0
South coast
Has she actually been referred to the SALT(speech and language therapy) team? I couldnt actually work that out from your post. It sounded like the GP has cancelled it. If thats the case see if you can get it re-instated as the SALT team is usually very good - they can advise on textures, come up with some ideas, get the thickener for liquids and advise how to use it.

I dont know if she will need "soft" food, like shepherds pie, or whether this will still be too lumpy and she will need it pureed.
 

totallyconfused

Registered User
Apr 18, 2016
435
0
Has she actually been referred to the SALT(speech and language therapy) team? I couldnt actually work that out from your post. It sounded like the GP has cancelled it. If thats the case see if you can get it re-instated as the SALT team is usually very good - they can advise on textures, come up with some ideas, get the thickener for liquids and advise how to use it.

I dont know if she will need "soft" food, like shepherds pie, or whether this will still be too lumpy and she will need it pureed.
Apologies, they wrote back asking for more info. She was annoyed as she wouldn't make referral if it wasn't necessary and they could have spoken to us at the appointment about her eating.

She will send the form back with more info. Forgot to ask how long the waiting times are but perhaps we should try and go private?Waiting times here in Ireland are awful. Children wait years at times to see one.
 

Jessbow

Registered User
Mar 1, 2013
5,678
0
Midlands
While those that should, get their act together, I think its trial & Error & close supervision when eating.

If food does need to be pureed, you can try various textures ( Soup like to dry like mash) and see what suits.
From experience, if you do blend food, PLEASE bend it individually- carrot puree, mash & meat, not a grey soup day after day- nothing less appealing,
 

Tin

Registered User
May 18, 2014
4,820
0
UK
Cottage pie is a really good start, the beef part can be cooked as normal and then minced again to remove any meaty lumps and cheesy mash potato on top. You can do the same with a fish pie. soft fish like salmon pureed with cheese sauce and topped with mashed potato. Carrot, suede, butter, cream and nutmeg mashed together is delicious and my mum would sometimes be happy with just a plate of this. Desserts for us tended to be based around custard mixed with tinned apricot or pear, stewed apples, bananas. Trifle and Angel Delight, chocolate mousse. Biscuits stopped and replaced with sponge cake. for a short period mum was happy and able to drink with a straw, it seemed to help the liquid 'go down the right way' and I was trying to put off using the thickeners especially in tea and coffee-mum did not like it, but she was ok if I used it in a chocolate drink.
 

At home

Registered User
May 1, 2016
15
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My mum was referred to the SALT team, and I have been advised to use thickeners in all her drinks, she is also on a 'soft and wet' diet. Coffee made with all milk isn't too bad with thickener - but tea is disgusting. I can't make it without ending up with 'globs' of thickener, no matter how much I mix. I have just bought an old fashioned nylon tea strainer on eBay, hoping that might help.
Like others have suggested - mashed veg- I buy the root veg mash ready made, most supermarkets have their own brand. I have found Tesco's the smoothest and easiest for her to manage. I use half and mix it with a jug of gravy, so it's like a very thick soup. Weetabix soaked in milk, or scrambled egg for breakfast. Puddings are egg custard, either home made, or just the middles from a couple of tarts, creme caramels, pans cotta, tapioca (rice pudding is too grainy) semolina with jam, mashed to a pulp banana - and custard, tiramisu (if the loose cocoa on the top is mixed in) and some sponge puddings - there are some she manages better than others, heavier moist ones, with custard seem to go down best.
My mum is completely bed bound, but even with this restricted diet she is putting weight on, though she is probably getting around 2,000 calories a day - that includes 6-7 mugs of coffee, made with all milk. Fortunately she can't remember what she eats so I don't feel too bad giving her similar food each day.
 

Toony Oony

Registered User
Jun 21, 2016
576
0
My Mum seems to cope OK with 'wet food' or easily eaten food that has gravy, a sauce, custard etc with it - it is anything that would be dry in her mouth and swallowed 'dry' that causes problems. This morning it was an 'After Eight' mint that was the offending item. Mum tries to take a drink to wash it down, but that often makes the situation worse.
She is on a soft diet at her CH, however sometimes her food, although soft, has little moisture. I am always saying 'Give ***** lots of gravy!'

Mum has a kind of 'sixth sense' about it though, and although wholly inappropriate, will try to wet the food - for example, pour some of her cup of tea onto a cake to moisten it, or pour water onto her dinner.
 

Kaitlin

Registered User
Mar 20, 2018
11
0
My Mum seems to cope OK with 'wet food' or easily eaten food that has gravy, a sauce, custard etc with it - it is anything that would be dry in her mouth and swallowed 'dry' that causes problems. This morning it was an 'After Eight' mint that was the offending item. Mum tries to take a drink to wash it down, but that often makes the situation worse.
She is on a soft diet at her CH, however sometimes her food, although soft, has little moisture. I am always saying 'Give ***** lots of gravy!'

Mum has a kind of 'sixth sense' about it though, and although wholly inappropriate, will try to wet the food - for example, pour some of her cup of tea onto a cake to moisten it, or pour water onto her dinner.
My dad has been finding it difficult to swallow food, I asked gp if it could be dysphagia, he didn't say it was or wasn't. They have given him omeprazole in case it could be indigestion type symptoms. The gp has sent a referral for a camera down but I'm worried now it could be his dementia, he is 86.
 

poliopete

Registered User
Aug 3, 2013
1
0
My darling wife is in the fourteenth year of Early-onset Alzheimer's dementia, over a quarter of our married life.
She has dysphagia. I found the "health professionals" she was referred to not much help. What I do is add a small amount of thickener to most of her drinks, all her food is home cooked and blended. I try and blend things separately so the different flavors can be enjoyed. The trick is to get her meals the right consistency. I spoon feed her with small amounts and give her plenty of time to chew. Certain foods do not blitz very well such as roast chicken or sweet corn. The tinned chicken in a white sauce is ideal and along with steamed soft green veg and some mash makes a very good meal for her. Liver blends well and is tasty but try and get calves or lambs liver and not beef I make homemade stock to add to her blended meals enabling the right consistency.
Desserts are easy although the sugar content must be considered.
Breakfast is usually porridge, with a mashed banana or blitzed stewed fruit with a small spoon of manuka honey and a splash of double cream to get the all-important consistency.
 

Kaitlin

Registered User
Mar 20, 2018
11
0
My darling wife is in the fourteenth year of Early-onset Alzheimer's dementia, over a quarter of our married life.
She has dysphagia. I found the "health professionals" she was referred to not much help. What I do is add a small amount of thickener to most of her drinks, all her food is home cooked and blended. I try and blend things separately so the different flavors can be enjoyed. The trick is to get her meals the right consistency. I spoon feed her with small amounts and give her plenty of time to chew. Certain foods do not blitz very well such as roast chicken or sweet corn. The tinned chicken in a white sauce is ideal and along with steamed soft green veg and some mash makes a very good meal for her. Liver blends well and is tasty but try and get calves or lambs liver and not beef I make homemade stock to add to her blended meals enabling the right consistency.
Desserts are easy although the sugar content must be considered.
Breakfast is usually porridge, with a mashed banana or blitzed stewed fruit with a small spoon of manuka honey and a splash of double cream to get the all-important consistency.
I don't know what to do yet, dad can't use his false teeth anymore because he is losing weight and they don't fit. My husband thinks this is something to do with it but he managed before because he only put them in when we were taking him out. I will see in the next few days/weeks before he goes for the camera down if anything changes. He is losing weight as well.
 

charlie10

Registered User
Dec 20, 2018
394
0
@Kaitlin....my FiL is also losing weight and has a very poor appetite....he says nothing tastes nice any more. I know that the sense of taste is strongly influenced by the ability to smell, so trying to see if that's the problem. Not sure what the solution is tho, apart from making meals with stronger tastes. He also has problems with his false teeth, but can manage to 'gum' softish foods fairly well
 

Kaitlin

Registered User
Mar 20, 2018
11
0
@Kaitlin....my FiL is also losing weight and has a very poor appetite....he says nothing tastes nice any more. I know that the sense of taste is strongly influenced by the ability to smell, so trying to see if that's the problem. Not sure what the solution is tho, apart from making meals with stronger tastes. He also has problems with his false teeth, but can manage to 'gum' softish foods fairly well
You have just reminded me that dads taste is not where it should be. Thanks
 

Toony Oony

Registered User
Jun 21, 2016
576
0
Hi @Kaitlin and @charlie10 - it was Mum's false teeth, not eating, weight loss and associated problems that first prompted her Vascular Dementia diagnosis. I've been there and got the tee shirt!
I took Mum to a dentist who specialised in elderly denture-wearing patients. He explained - and I mention this as it may help you - that often the top plate will not cause an issue, but the bottom plate takes a lot of 'subconscious' to keep in place, so the elderly and especially those with dementia, have problems. The upper plate has a strong suction to the palate, the bottom plate's horse shoe shape has no suction plus the tongue gets in the way. Also, normal jaw movement is up and down, but as we age it changes to be more side to side - and this does not help with dentures!
Like your FiL charlie10, when Mum's dementia got more advanced she dispensed with the offending bottom teeth (she hid them somewhere and they have since disappeared!) - some days she wears her top plate - other times she doesn't bother and manages pretty well.
 

Kaitlin

Registered User
Mar 20, 2018
11
0
Hi @Kaitlin and @charlie10 - it was Mum's false teeth, not eating, weight loss and associated problems that first prompted her Vascular Dementia diagnosis. I've been there and got the tee shirt!
I took Mum to a dentist who specialised in elderly denture-wearing patients. He explained - and I mention this as it may help you - that often the top plate will not cause an issue, but the bottom plate takes a lot of 'subconscious' to keep in place, so the elderly and especially those with dementia, have problems. The upper plate has a strong suction to the palate, the bottom plate's horse shoe shape has no suction plus the tongue gets in the way. Also, normal jaw movement is up and down, but as we age it changes to be more side to side - and this does not help with dentures!
Like your FiL charlie10, when Mum's dementia got more advanced she dispensed with the offending bottom teeth (she hid them somewhere and they have since disappeared!) - some days she wears her top plate - other times she doesn't bother and manages pretty well.
Thank you
Hi @Kaitlin and @charlie10 - it was Mum's false teeth, not eating, weight loss and associated problems that first prompted her Vascular Dementia diagnosis. I've been there and got the tee shirt!
I took Mum to a dentist who specialised in elderly denture-wearing patients. He explained - and I mention this as it may help you - that often the top plate will not cause an issue, but the bottom plate takes a lot of 'subconscious' to keep in place, so the elderly and especially those with dementia, have problems. The upper plate has a strong suction to the palate, the bottom plate's horse shoe shape has no suction plus the tongue gets in the way. Also, normal jaw movement is up and down, but as we age it changes to be more side to side - and this does not help with dentures!
Like your FiL charlie10, when Mum's dementia got more advanced she dispensed with the offending bottom teeth (she hid them somewhere and they have since disappeared!) - some days she wears her top plate - other times she doesn't bother and manages pretty well.
Hi Tony oony, my dad has already got vascular dementia, the more I hear the more I'm leaning to his dementia diagnosis. I really do hope I'm wrong.
 

Toony Oony

Registered User
Jun 21, 2016
576
0
Hi again @Kaitlin - I do hope that your Dad's problem is gastric and can be helped by medication. If not, and it is the dire dementia, then it is time to start finding ways and means of getting some nutrition into your Dad. I worried myself stupid that Mum wasn't getting a nutritionally sound and balanced diet. Forget that, just get whatever you can inside him. Hopefully you may find a couple of things that Dad will eat, then make sure he gets lots of it. He may go off them after a while, so then find something else. My Mum's diet for ages was soup, cake, Muller Lite Banana Yoghurt and a daily Fortisip.

Hope you find a solution soon X
 

justdavid

Registered User
May 15, 2013
3
0
70
Nottingam
I use a hand blender to get a smooth texture for my wife's food, like tinned chunky soup blend it down to a smooth texture, yogurt with small bites of fruit in and made smoother so she can swallow it, it is like feeding a baby, plus I give her honey a lot as well, I also find cold water is better than warm.
my wife as frontotemporal dementia, and it is just over six year she as been like this.
 

Kaitlin

Registered User
Mar 20, 2018
11
0
Hi again @Kaitlin - I do hope that your Dad's problem is gastric and can be helped by medication. If not, and it is the dire dementia, then it is time to start finding ways and means of getting some nutrition into your Dad. I worried myself stupid that Mum wasn't getting a nutritionally sound and balanced diet. Forget that, just get whatever you can inside him. Hopefully you may find a couple of things that Dad will eat, then make sure he gets lots of it. He may go off them after a while, so then find something else. My Mum's diet for ages was soup, cake, Muller Lite Banana Yoghurt and a daily Fortisip.

Hope you find a solution soon X
Hi Tony oony , the gp has already prescribed omeprazole twice daily to my dad with no effect
Hi again @Kaitlin - I do hope that your Dad's problem is gastric and can be helped by medication. If not, and it is the dire dementia, then it is time to start finding ways and means of getting some nutrition into your Dad. I worried myself stupid that Mum wasn't getting a nutritionally sound and balanced diet. Forget that, just get whatever you can inside him. Hopefully you may find a couple of things that Dad will eat, then make sure he gets lots of it. He may go off them after a while, so then find something else. My Mum's diet for ages was soup, cake, Muller Lite Banana Yoghurt and a daily Fortisip.

Hope you find a solution soon X
Hi again @Kaitlin - I do hope that your Dad's problem is gastric and can be helped by medication. If not, and it is the dire dementia, then it is time to start finding ways and means of getting some nutrition into your Dad. I worried myself stupid that Mum wasn't getting a nutritionally sound and balanced diet. Forget that, just get whatever you can inside him. Hopefully you may find a couple of things that Dad will eat, then make sure he gets lots of it. He may go off them after a while, so then find something else. My Mum's diet for ages was soup, cake, Muller Lite Banana Yoghurt and a daily Fortisip.

Hope you find a solution soon X
 

PODGEO

Registered User
Jan 18, 2012
54
0
HI, don't forget, appearances can be very inviting or off putting. You don't need individual moulds to make shapes of meat fish and 2 veg; use an icing bag and nozzle; see attachment. my husband had very attractive meals prepared by carers who were inventive !
 

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