Drooling -- Use a straw if possible; help close the mouth with your hand. (However, sometimes the use of a straw can cause choking if liquid touches the back of the mouth too quickly.)
Spitting out food -- Ask the doctor if the cause is moodiness or disease.
Too much swallowing or chewing -- Coach the person to alternate hot and cold bites.
Difficulty chewing -- Change the diet to soft foods.
Difficulty swallowing -- Put foods through a blender or food mill; avoid thin liquids and instead serve thick liquids such as milk shakes.
Poor scooping -- Use bowls instead of plates.
Difficulty cutting food -- Use a small pizza cutter or rolling knife.
Trouble moving food to the back of the mouth -- Change the food's thickness and demonstrate how to direct the food to the center of the mouth.
Too dry or too wet mouth -- Ask the doctor or the pharmacist if this is a side effect of medications.
Too easily distracted -- Pull down the shades and remove the distractions.
NOTE: Difficulty in swallowing can cause food or liquids to be taken into the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia. Reduce the chance of food entering the lungs by keeping the person upright for at least 30 minutes after a meal.
