Raising Awareness for National Dysphagia Awareness Month
Posted: April 18, 2016 Filed under: awareness, Caregiving, National Dysphagia Awareness Month, Real Food, support for dysphagia, support for feeding, The National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders | Tags: advice, Dysphagia, Eating with Dysphagia, health, hydration, nutrition, support Leave a commentJune is Nationa Dysphagia Awareness Month so I made this “shout-out” to Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb so they can help us raise awareness. I hope this helps you and other who struggle with dysphagia and swallowing disorders. Enjoy!
NEW Dysphagia Support Group in the Greater Phoenix Area
Posted: March 11, 2016 Filed under: Care-giving, Caregiving, Education, Public Service Annoucemebt, Uncategorized | Tags: advice, assistance, care-giving, Dysphagia, family, health, support, Swallowing Disorders 4 CommentsOn Friday, March 11, from 3:00 pm to 5;00 pm, the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders is kicking-off a support group for those with swallowing disorders.
Future meetings are scheduled for the second Friday of the month from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Morningstar Senior Living has graciously offered to host our meetings. Morningstar is located at 21432 N 75th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85305. http://www.morningstarseniorliving.com/communities/morningstar-at-arrowhead/
As this is our first meeting, this will be a planning meeting where we discuss the needs of the community. Future topics will include:
- Feeding tube management
- Thickening products and thickening procedures
- Oral Care
- National Dysphagia Diet
- Compensatory swallowing techniques
- Social/emotional ramifications of dysphagia
- Optimizing reflux management
- New advances in Dysphagia Management
- Role of nutrition in maximizing swallowing function
- Dysphagia, from the eyes of the caregiver
- Free water protocol
- Understanding Aspiration Pneumonia
- Long term effects of radiation therapy
- Living with Xerostomia
- Naturally thickened liquids. Naturally pureed foods
- Customizing dysphagia therapy
- Understanding normal swallowing function
- Stroke and Dysphagia
- Voice and Swallowing…How are they connected?
- Dysphagia Diet Recipes
- Maximizing outcomes through the interdisciplinary team approach
- How are swallowing problems diagnosed
This swallowing disorder support group is open to patients, caregivers, clinicians and anyone who has questions and needs support and resources to live their best lives.
If you need more information or plan to attend, please email Laura Michael at: Laura@dysphagiasupplies.com.
Hope to see you there!
Aids for Daily Living help those struggling to feed themselves
Posted: August 25, 2014 Filed under: Care-giving, Caregiving, Dementia, dignity, eating, feeding, new products, support for feeding, support for feeding, Support Groups | Tags: advice, care-giving, food, Guest blog, support Leave a commentWhen I speak to dementia support groups, I mention how helpful it can be to use specially adapted eating utensils. Something as simple as a fork with a larger handle can help restore a bit of dignity to someone who is struggling with feeding themselves.
Recently, I was visiting my friend Yolanda Romero-Alemany in her medical supply store and I saw the helpful eating/feeding items she stocks. Yolanda is a great resource for medical equipment and supplies so I asked her to write this guest blog:
Ever wonder why restaurants’ menus and interiors often are red? Studies have shown that the color red stimulates the appetite.
How does this relate to people eating independently, especially those with Alzheimer’s or Dementia? Red is the color easiest to perceive for Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients which makes it great for tableware. Many Alzheimer’s patients do not eat enough due to lack of hand-eye coordination with silverware or not being able to distinguish the food from the serving bowl/dish. At Scottsdale Medical Equipment & Supplies, we carry the Power of Red line of utensils, bowls, and cups by Essential Medical. The red dish and bowl have nonslip bottoms which hold it in place while eating and the great red color provides contrast between the food and dish. The forks and spoons have large handles to make it easier to grip and can actually bend so the motion to scoop something up from a bowl to the mouth is easier. The Power of Red line also includes a cup with a nose cutout so people don’t have to tilt their heads back to drink. These items range in price from $18-$45.
Scottsdale Medical Equipment & Supplies stocks other Aids to Daily Living products carried at our store in Scottsdale, on the NW corner of Loop 101 and Shea Blvd. We stock many eating/feeding tools which make meal time more enjoyable for everyone.
If you are in the area, stop by our store is at 8752 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 and “Let our Family Take Care of Your Family”.
Mom & Dad
Posted: August 18, 2014 Filed under: Care-giving, Caregiving, Dementia, family, major life events, Online support, Support Groups, Uncategorized | Tags: assistance, care-giving, health, support, support groups Leave a commentWhen you are a caregiver, it is easy to feel alone and overwhelmed. If you are a family caregiver, it may feel even more challenging because of family dynamics and family roles. Even when you are doing your best, you can’t seem to “fix” what is going wrong. Often, family caregivers are thrust into the role without much preparation. Whether you are caring for an aging parent or a spouse or child with an unexpected illness, switching gears and roles can be HARD.
When you are in the thick of it, please remember to “take the oxygen mask for yourself” before you assist the person you are caring for. “Taking the oxygen mask” means looking after your own basic needs. Take time to eat, rest and care for yourself. You need to do those things that rejuvenate you. Doing so does not make you selfish, it makes you smart. If you can’t breathe deeply or if your body, mind and soul are not nourished, you will no doubt fail. There is only so much of you to go around.
When my mom was in the thick of it, when Dad had more bad days than good, I would remind/nag/cajole her to take time for herself. Many, many times I told her: “I’m losing Dad to Lewy Bodies; I don’t want to lose you as well”. She listened. She asked for help and assistance within the family, from her friends, in the community and through support groups. As the old saying goes: “Many hands make the burden light”.
My parents had always been the first to volunteer when there was an emergency or need whether it was in the family, within the community or among their friends. I am grateful that their community responded when Mom and Dad were in need. Both of my parents taught me the true meaning of grace and courage.
Dad has been gone five years now and Mom continues to move mountains.
In my next blog post, I will share some of the great support groups and online communities in which I have found strength and support. In the meantime, if you would like to contact me, please visit my website: http://www.dysphagiasolutions.com.
Nourishing Independence with Mom’s Meals
Posted: August 13, 2014 Filed under: Care-giving, Caregiving, major life events, new products, Nutrition, Online support, pre-made meals, pre-made purees, Purees, Real Food, Reviews, Uncategorized | Tags: advice, assistance, care-giving, Dysphagia, eating, Eating with Dysphagia, food, nutrition, Pureed Foods, Purees, Stroke, support Leave a commentRecently, I worked with a client who had just returned home after six weeks in hospital and rehab. “Irene” had been a vital, active 78 year-old woman before her stroke. More than anything, Irene and her husband “Bob” want to get their lives back to normal.
Since Irene has arrived home, Bob has been working overtime managing all of the activities that come with recovery from stroke including: scheduling doctor’s appointments then going to the appointments, ordering and receiving a hospital bed and wheel chair, juggling therapy visits, picking-up prescriptions, making the house wheel chair friendly and opening all the mail that accumulates while you are occupied away from home, just to name a few.
Bob asked me to help him learn how to cook for and feed Irene. Before the stroke, cooking was Irene’s job in the family but Bob will do anything it takes to care for his wife, including learning how to cook at 78 years-old! Being a bit overwhelmed, Bob has no time to cook for himself, let alone cook and then puree meals for Irene. I’m glad that there are foods like Mom’s Meals – Purees to recommend to him.
Mom’s Meals is an online supplier fresh-cooked, ready-made refrigerated pureed meals. Each meal has a main dish, vegetable and dessert. Their menu consists of comfort foods like:
- Scrambled Eggs with Brown Sugar Pork Loin Bacon, Bread and Applesauce
- Roast Beef with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots, Vanilla Pudding and Applesauce
- Pork with BBQ Sauce, Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Fruit and Chocolate Pudding
- Roasted White-meat Chicken with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Carrots, Fruit and Vanilla Pudding
- Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Broccoli, Blueberry Applesauce and Pudding
You order online (or by phone) and Mom’s Meals ships directly to your home. The meals have a 14 day shelf life and are easily reheated in the microwave.
I sampled four meals and I found them delicious and hearty. At between 600 and 700 calories per meal, they are ideal for helping to rebuild your strength. With four breakfast menus and eight lunch/dinner choices, you have some ability to eat a variety of foods. If you like home-cooking, Mom’s Meals purees will appeal to you, as they did to Irene and Bob.
Each full puree meal is $7.49 plus shipping. Shipping is $14.95 regardless of the size of your order.
And if you are too busy to cook, like Bob, check-out their regular meals, as well!
To order from Mom’s Meals purees visit their website: http://www.momsmeals.com/independent-at-home/pureed-menu/.
If you need advice, please contact me: laura@dysphagiasupplies.com or 480-266-5622.
Finding the “New Normal”
Posted: June 12, 2014 Filed under: Alzheimer's, Care-giving, Dementia, major life events, Nutrition, Purees, Real Food, Strategies, Stroke | Tags: assistance, care-giving, Dysphagia, Stroke, support Leave a commentYears ago, when I brought home my newborn son, I stumbled as I tried to find my “new normal”. Major life events mean that life has to change in a big way. The “normal – normal” seems to no longer exist.
Those first few weeks of caring for a totally dependent new life were exhausting, scary, “real” and totally overwhelming. Days were measured by feedings, naps and diapers. Since eating is such a basic part of living, I expected that feeding my son would come naturally. It didn’t. We had challenges. I met with Lactation Specialists in the hospital. I read everything I could get my hands on. What helped me most was reaching-out to other moms and getting advice. Slowly, as I became more comfortable and confident in my role as mommy/care-giver and after my son started eating regularly, the days started to make sense.
I like to compare my experience as a new mom to what families go through when a loved-one is sent home from the hospital after a stroke or other debilitating illness. Care-givers are thrust into roles they’ve probably never before navigated or at least have never practiced on their wife or husband or parent. Many people are often unprepared for the realities of managing the demands of cooking for someone with a swallowing disorder. Unfortunately, the “old way” of preparing meals won’t work anymore and the transition can be difficult. There are no “pureed diet” cooking shows on the Food Network. No famous chef has written a book about how to make pureed foods and beverages safe, nutritious and delicious…but I have.
I have dedicated my life to helping people eat, drink and return as close to “normal” as possible, as they navigate the road to recovery at home. During the ten years I spent working with staffs in hospitals, rehabilitation units and long-term care facilities, I taught many people how to properly manage foods and beverages for their patients with dysphagia. What I teach isn’t difficult or expensive but it can be critical to caring for someone who is living with a swallowing disorder.
The “new normal” will come with time and with a little instruction, a dose of creativity, and the right products. You can help restore the joy of eating and drinking to someone who is living with dysphagia.
If you need help or assistance, please contact me: laura@dysphagiasupplies.com
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