ADRIA THOMPSON: The `VITAL Role Speech Therapy Plays in The Quality of Your Loved One's Life

In Episode 61, Don and I had the pleasure of speaking with Adria Thompson, a speech language pathologist, dementia educator, and owner of Be Light Care Consulting. Adria has over 8 years experience in working with individuals one on one providing speech therapy services for those with dementia.Adria has also created a dementia training program to teach therapists in 13 states how to increase their creativity, efficiency, and compassion. She creates daily content for over 200,000 professional and personal caregivers of individuals with dementia on social media platforms in a relatable, positive way that makes the condition seem a little less scary. I was particularly interested in talking to Adria about dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) which often presents in late-stage dementia patients. Although dysphagia can only truly be diagnosed via Videofluoroscopy (VFS), also called a modified barium swallow study (the gold standard),  many Long Term Care Facilities use antiquated ways to make their official assessment based on budget and man-power. This is what happened to my mother in the last 6 months of her life. Without having her properly tested, the facility that she was at claimed she could no longer swallow safely and insisted she be fed via a G-Tube. They also refused to allow her to have anything orally for fear she would aspirate. But the truth was, my mother was not only able to swallow, she wanted to desperately.  Despite my advocating, they forbid it. I was finally able to convince them to have her assessed by their speech therapist who proceeded to diagnose her with dysphagia by watching her and placing a finger on her throat. I implored the therapist to watch me give my mother liquids from one of the sponges used for oral care. She agreed that my mother was able to swallow...for me. Her final decision was that I would be allowed to give liquids to my mother via a sponge on a stick. No one else would be given permission. Let's be honest - the decision was based on the fact that they were understaffed.  And potential liability.  Consequently, my mother suffered for 6 months from an unnecessary G-Tube,  solid chunks of mucus that formed daily which happens when liquid is withheld from a person, and the monotony of almost zero oral gratification! Can you imagine? I say almost zero, because everyday for 6 months, I brought my mother "something to drink". I was restricted by their edict that it could only be provided by a sponge that my mother had to suck. It was heartbreaking. Their attempt to keep my mother from aspirating and developing pneumonia GREATLY affected her quality of life. In truth, it was an exercise in futility and really a distraction from the stage 4 pressure sore they allowed to develop and neglected to care for properly  which ultimately resulted in sepsis and pneumonia several times during her last six months. We must protect our LOs from decisions based on policy that benefit the establishment and disregard our LOs quality of life... however long that may be. They deserve it.  xo Susie Connect with Adria: Instagram FB TIK TOK LinkedIn [email protected] us Fan MailIf someone you love experienced neglect in a nursing home…Then you know how desperately the system needs to change.  History has shown us that It takes people power to change anything worthwhile. That’s why we we’re launching something that’s never been done before. On September 27, communities across the country are coming together for the first-ever National Long-Term Care Reform Day.This is a peaceful national walk for dignity, accountability, and change in long-term care.We’rSupport the showNo Country For Old People; a Nursing Home Exposé is STREAMING NOW on Amazon Prime (https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0F7D1RR5X/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r) Visit the No Country For Old People Website for more information.Please watch. Review. Share.Be a ROAR-ior!! JOIN THE R.O.A.R. MOVEMENT (Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, Reform) for quality long term care! Visit the ROAR 4 LTC Website for more information and consider participating in the inaugural National National Long-Term Care Day, Sunday, September 27th The 1st ever ROAR 2026 National Walk for Long-Term Care Reform! Found out more here: https://www.roar4ltc.org/roar-2026-walkFollow us on Twitter, FB, IG, & TiK Tok 💜 Listen on your favorite platform 💜 If you like what you hear leave us some love.  💜