Dementia support: understanding and helping with swallowing issues
Dementia is a progressive condition. Over time, issues with swallowing can become more common. If you are a carer, it can be worrying to watch someone with dementia choke on their food or have difficulties swallowing. You can find information below on how to help with eating and drinking.
About swallowing issues
As dementia progresses, swallowing issues can become more common.
This can lead to:
- food or drink getting into the lungs instead of the stomach – this could lead to chest infections or pneumonia
- losing weight
- dehydration
Over time, the person you are caring for may have difficulties letting you know they are hungry or thirsty.
Food and drink intake will need to be monitored every day to make sure they are eating and drinking enough.
How to adapt to changes in swallowing
A person with a dementia may have difficulty with some types of food and fluids.
This can lead to them spitting out lumps or holding food in the mouth.
Things that can help include:
- giving a soft, moist diet - avoid hard, dry or fibrous foods that need a lot of chewing like steak, bacon and wheaten bread
- using gravy or sauces to moisten food
- encouraging small sips of fluids
How to help if a person is spitting out lumps
A person with a dementia may begin to spit out food.
Things that can help include:
- avoiding foods with lumps, bits or mixed textures like crumbly biscuits, soup with bits, food with skins or pips
- making sure food is soft or smooth in consistency throughout
How to help if a person forgets to swallow
A person with a dementia may forget to swallow.
Things that can help include:
- alternating temperature and taste within a meal, for example, sweet and savoury food or hot and very cold foods or fluids
- offering sips of ice cold drink before a meal or in between mouthfuls
- giving verbal prompts to swallow
- trying placing an empty spoon in the mouth between mouthfuls to help stimulate a swallow
What to do if food stays in the mouth
A person with a dementia may begin to keep food in their mouth at the end of a meal.
Things that can help include:
- checking their mouth after each meal and encouraging or providing regular teeth brushing or denture cleaning, as food left in the mouth can cause mouth infections and bad breath
- keeping the person upright for a short time
- if food remains in the mouth despite these attempts to encourage a swallow, you should safely try to remove it
If the person you are caring for is persistently coughing or choking when eating and/ or drinking, contact their GP for advice as a speech and language therapy assessment may be needed.
If they're having difficulty with swallowing tablets, talk to their GP or local pharmacist who will be able to advise you.
Where to find help and support
As a carer, there are many ways you can help support them in their everyday life and activities.
You can find further information on dementia and support services available at the link below: