Older adults are prone to choking while eating because their swallowing function deteriorates with age. People experience a loss in muscle strength in the mouth and throat. This can be due to age or medication usage. Many older folks have less saliva so their mouth and throat are less moist. Aspiration pneumonia is a possible complication from choking. This can be dangerous for older adults so it is good to know how to prevent it. Read on to learn more about the choking risks in older adults and some prevention tips!
Tips to Prevent Choking in Older Adults
Choking is commonly seen in older adults due to various reasons. One of the main ones includes the loss of muscle strength due to aging. It is something we have to take note of to keep well and safe. Here are some tips that can help older adults prevent choking while eating:
- Chew food well. Take your time to chew the food into smaller pieces before swallowing them.
- Take small bites. Use small spoons so you can control the portion size of each mouth. Take about half to one teaspoon of food at a time.
- Make sure that your dining area has enough lighting and it is free from distractions such as the television so that you can focus on eating.
- Sit up straight while you are eating. Do not eat while lying down.
- Eat slowly. Do not rush during your mealtimes but take your time to eat.
- Chin tuck. Turn your head down and tuck your chin toward your chest. Then, bend your body forward when swallowing food. This will allow greater ease of swallowing and tilts the epiglottis backward to prevent food from entering the airway.
- Don’t drink liquids while eating. You can alternate between eating food and drinking liquids. Take small sips of liquids at a time when you do so.
- Don’t talk while eating. Talking can cause the epiglottis to open.
If after taking the above steps to prevent choking, you continue to experience choking while eating, you can consider going to the doctor to check on your chewing and swallowing capabilities.
Choose Discovery Village At Melbourne
Here at Discovery Village At Melbourne, we have designed a top-notch senior living community especially for you. It is located in a prime location, near Harbor City Country Club Estates and Pinehurst Gardens. We offer you three options to choose from: Supervised Independent Living, Senior Assisted Living, and SHINE® Memory Care. Our purpose is to improve the standards of senior living so that you can enjoy the later part of your life. Our residents get to enjoy our excellent facilities and amenities. We have a committed health and wellness team that creates individualized care plans to suit your needs. Furthermore, we have many fun and exciting activities planned for you so you can live a healthy, active lifestyle.
After reading about choking risks in older adults, you might be thinking of moving to our senior living community where you will be well taken care of. Feel free to contact us for more information!
