Elderly difficulties: How live-in care ensures safety & well being

As we get older there are certain things we used to take for granted that become more difficult. When our bodies start to slow down and become weaker it can have knock-on effects for even simple things, and one of the most common problems faced by elderly people is losing the ability to swallow foods and liquids easily.

This is known as dysphagia, also referred to as ‘swallowing difficulties’, and it is a condition that affects someone’s ability to swallow certain foods or liquids, and in some cases restricts the ability to swallow entirely.

Dysphagia is relatively common in the general population, affecting as much as 16% of adults in the UK, but it is particularly common among the elderly, with as many as 1 in 3 older people suffering from the condition. 

Elderly swallowing difficulties can be temporary or permanent, but in both cases it is a dangerous condition that’s associated with malnutrition, pneumonia and dehydration, as well as higher rates of mortality, and that should be taken seriously. If you’re worried that one of your elderly loved ones could be suffering from dysphagia, it’s important you understand what could be causing the condition, how to spot it, and what can be done to manage it.