What Can I Feed an Older Relative Who Has Difficulty Swallowing?
Food preparation is important to consider when you have a relative who has difficulty swallowing. Offering a wide variety of foods cooked and served so that chewing and swallowing will be easier can make all the difference in the person's overall nutrition and health.
Many factors can contribute to difficulty swallowing, but it's more common in older adults because of weakened musculature, neurological damage (usually caused by stroke, Parkinson's, or advanced Alzheimer's), gastrointestinal disorders, or cancer treatments.
What to try:
Make sure food that's offered is soft to begin with (items like cooked lentils, rice pudding, casserole).
Try soup, especially nutrient-dense soups, such as vegetable-chicken, split pea, or other bean-based soups.
Cut the food into very small pieces.
Cook vegetables and meats to tenderness.
Pour gravy or sauce on foods (such as vegetables and pasta) to make them softer.
Serve nutritional supplement drinks (Boost, Ensure, Sustacal). Add ice cream to make a shake, or serve the supplement in pudding form.
I have a very high speed blender which blends any combination of organic fruits vegetables nuts seeds etc., into a nutritious wholesome smoothy. Soups can be made too with various veggies, just let the blender run until it warms up. Besides the blender, I have a very good juicer that can juice fruits and vegetables. Ever heard of Wheat grass juice, research it on the internet, you will be surprised at the nutritious values.
