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My mother although 91 has a spirit of 75. She is an independent, healthy, active individual who now finds herself after this stroke in bed, with nappy, occasional commode, no voice but aware of who I am. This is heartbreaking for me as she's bubbly, fun-loving and enjoys life. I would like some help on how to thicken her water intake naturally, as she eats healthy and a big no to any commercial additives and products. Thankyou x

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My my mom had a stroke Last Summer and I've also helped sit with a friend's father who had trouble swallowing also. The aspiration issue is an urgent issue. The thickener that the hospitals give and that you can get from Walgreens is just like any vitamin or medicine. It's really essential and I wouldn't mess with trying to do anything homemade because depending on the degree of difficulty swallowing, they need certain levels of thickener. This is a serious issue because aspirational pneumonia is a very bad and can kill them. I urge you to rethink about using the commercial thickeners as they are designed and formulated to prevent more medical problems for people who cannot swallow properly.
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I want to emphasize what Grandma1954 has already mentioned DO NOT use gelatin as it will melt in the mouth and throat from body heat, the same applies to foods like ice cream.
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Rehab is extremely important following any brain injury. When there's been any paralysis early rehab is very important. The brain can heal and establish new pathways for motor control; however, unused muscles atrophy quickly, particularly in the elderly. It's something of a race between establishing the new neural links to still toned muscles.

My observation from recoveries of family and friends with aneurysms and strokes is there is a initial period (lasting 2-6 months) of decreased cognitive function with memory impairment and often deep depression and resistance to rehab. Most people need someone to push them through the depression and insist they participate in rehab. Once rehab and OT has allowed the person to start doing for themselves, the depression lifts and people begin working rehab harder to see how far back they can make it. I have seen an 85 year old recover in about 18 months from near total right side paralysis to walking with only a cane for balance. A 42 year old after a ruptured aneurysm and multiple small strokes never regained full vision or mobility, but regained enough function to walk with a brace and crutch or push herself around her house on a wheeled office chair and do ADLs and much of housework.

The saddest is one 72 year old from church who was placed in a NH following her stroke and never offered rehab; she taught herself to speak clearly in about 2 years, but lived another 12 without ever being able to get herself out of bed. Even today, I am still so angry at the family for deciding she was old and had already had one stroke so there was no reason to "waste" any time on rehab.
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Thickened liquids are important to prevent aspiration. At this point if your mom were to aspirate any food there is a good chance she would end up with what is called Aspiration Pneumonia. And that could be fatal.
You can make food thick by using vegetables in stead of thickeners, or reducing the liquid put into a soup or other food that will be pureed.
But that does not help with fluids like water, tea, coffee, juice. If you puree some fruits that might help but impractical for most fluids.
A thickener is made from starches so it is not "chemical" based.
You could try using instant potato flakes as a thickener but it will change the flavor of a liquid. Gelatin will not work because as the gelled product reaches body temperature it will act more like a liquid and be easier to aspirate.
You can try yogurt rather than milk, but again that goes down more like a liquid.

Depending on the dysphagia how thick the food or liquid should be might be a changing thing. I started out making my Husbands liquids like Nectar and we progressed to pudding thick.

You should consult a PT and Speech Therapist for a good evaluation of your mom and education on the reasoning behind the need for thickened liquids.
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All my empathy to you. My mom had suffered a brain hemorrhage 14 years ago, couldn't speak, couldn't move, changed personality, had to re-learn speaking, walking, reading again... today she's 93, bubbly as ever, she's been practicing her cooking skills during lockdown. Trust me on this, "bubblies" are tough cookies ;) She'll be back, socialise her as much as you can, physiotherapy, speech therapy, watching together art books describing things to her, massages, music, people visiting... all this has been vital.

As for natural water thickeners I don't have experience but have found this old thread:
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/thicken-liquids-with-natual-products-158698.htm

Wishing you and your mom the very best
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Did your mother not go to rehab?

Are OT, PT and Speech services seeing her at home? Rehab is an important part of recovering from stroke.

I agree with CWillie on the importance of thickening her liquids.
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Is she not on any medication that treats the causes of her stroke, and are they not "commercial additives and products"? The need for thickened fluids to prevent aspiration is a real medical need and IMO commercial thickeners are in the same category as any of her other medication, they have been carefully formulated to give consistent results and to keep fluids as palatable as possible. I saw my mother choke on water and it's not pretty, at your mother's age her comfort and safety trumps any desire to adhere to "healthy" eating.
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