EP86: Alzheimer's Care: Swallowing Problems Part 2: Modifying Textures + Flavor Building

Typically, around 85% of people will experience swallowing problems medically known as dysphasia at the end of life. Your loved ones or the people you care for can have trouble swallowing food, liquids, or both.  This is a 4-part series on Alzheimer's Care and Swallowing Problems, and this episode is focused on Modifying Textures + Flavor Building.  In Part 1, I talked about The Basics of Swallowing Problems.  In Part 3, I will review what Adaptive Equipment is and how to use it; and In Part 4, I will talk about how to maximize independence in eating. If you missed an episode, you can check them out where you found this one – or on my YouTube Channel, MelissaBPhD.  Main Point #1 - How to choose recipes that can be adapted for a variety of textures Intergenerational considerations Ease of recipe Modifiable textures Main Point #2 - Kitchen Items to Help Prepare Foods Blender The Magic Bullet® or Nutribullet®  Hand-held Blender (Immersion Blender) Food Processor Household Mesh Strainer or Sieve Baby Food Grinder   Main Point #3 - Tips for Flavor building when modifying textures for meals Use Fats, Dairy, or Vegetables to build flavor. - Butter - Margarine - Sour Cream  - Pureed Cottage Cheese - Cooking fats - Oils - Gravies - Whipped toppings  - Heavy cream - Mashed or blended avocado - Hummus Liquids to make foods easier to swallow, such as:  - Broth - Milk - Fruit Juices  - Vegetable Juices - Water   If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at [email protected], and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.  About Melissa Batchelor, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my Ph.D. in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.