Episode 82: Nutritional Considerations at the End of Life with Caitlin Saxtein, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Dysphagia negatively impacts the quality of life of patients and may lead to malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia and even death (Foley et al., 2009). We, as speech-language pathologists, must be aware of the experience of living with dysphagia, as “swallowing problems evoke a host of distressing psychological responses such as anxiety, shame, embarrassment, fear, and reduced self-esteem” (McHorne et al.,  2000). These distressing psychological responses may affect the overall quality of life and life satisfaction; and therefore, swallowing assessments must be completed in consideration of the direction and goals of care of the patient and family. A palliative care team is vital in this aspect; deciphering patients’ wishes via medical orders for life-sustaining treatment, while providing an extra layer of support for the patient and family. Speech-language pathologists and palliative care professionals work together to effectively provide education and counseling to patients and their families regarding the progressive nature of a disease, dysphagia, and nutritional options. Nutritional options include oral intake, comfort feeds, and/or alternate means of nutrition/hydration. Information provided must be based on current research, following evidenced based practice. This collaboration and communication foster the patients cultural, spiritual, and personal ideas, promoting overall quality of life. Show notes: https://www.speechuncensored.com/podcastepisodes/s3e33 Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/speech-uncensored/message