This is heart wrecking as I write this, but I really don’t know what to do.
Here’s the current situation:
1. Very, very, very few times she willingly accepts to drink
2. Other times - when she is sleepy - (so not resistant) she drinks
3. Straw sometimes works (but mostly with food) and sometimes she blows
4. Sometimes spoon drinking with food (mainly thick juices or milk in the morning)
I think the main problem is that she doesn’t feel thirsty and the coordination of drinking is complex for her
She says yes i want to drink
But then refuses/doesn’t know how to open her mouth
Of her mouth is already open - she doesn’t swallow the water and spits it out.
When she drinks a cup of water, she is fine, no choking or coughing
What do we do???
My late husband who had vascular dementia, developed aspiration pneumonia and almost died and the doctor in the ER said that the reason he developed it was because his brain was no longer telling his throat to close when he ate or drank.
So perhaps you may want to have your moms doctor order a swallowing test for her, so she doesn't aspirate. But in the meantime I would only give her thickened drinks(with the product Thick It)and only give her pureed foods.
I would probably also give hospice a call and have them do an evaluation to see if she may qualify for their help. I'm guessing she will.
I wish you both well.
Swallowing issues in the elderly are complex, difficult to diagnose, and difficult to resolve.
My LO was placed on a thickened fluids regime because of her tendency to choke and cough when attempting to ingest fluids.
She also appeared thirsty, did NOT tolerate thickened fluids well, and would take liquids from a straw with fewer problems if I helped her.
Because of her intermixed symptoms, I requested a swallowing assessment, and when observed drinking comfortably through a straw, she immediately resumed drinking small portions of Ensure and fruit juices.
Swallowing disorders sometimes present with symptoms that defy “common sense” - don’t leave this to chance.
in Egypt - medical systems are way different here.
already on thickened fluids
but the point is she doesn’t want to drink/does not know how to drink
do you mean her inner systems refuse drinking in fear of possible choking?
There are products that will thicken liquids.
The one I used is called ThickIt
You add it to any liquid to thicken to the desired consistency.
You can go from nectar thick to pudding thick. .
the product does not effect the flavor just the texture.
To prompt swallowing lightly run your finger under the chin,
I totally agree with the swallowing evaluation.