what to feed someone with aspiration

• Pureed breads (also called “pre-gelled” breads)
• Smooth puddings, custards, yogurts, and pureed desserts
• Pureed fruits and well-mashed bananas
• Pureed meats
• Souffles
• Well-moistened mashed potatoes
• Pureed soups
• Pureed vegetables without lumps, chunks, or seeds

Full Answer

What foods should I avoid if I have aspiration?

• Normal, everyday foods of varying textures, including soft, stringy, and hard and crunchy
• Foods that can be eaten by any method. For example, from a cup or using utensils.
• Foods that need to be chewed, with all types of textures and may have pieces that can't be swallowed, such as gristle

How can I eat if I have aspiration?

Try these tips to avoid aspiration when you swallow:

• Eat only when you're alert and relaxed.
• Cut your food into small pieces.
• Eat smaller meals, and eat more often.
• Add moisture, like sauce, to dry food.
• Always swallow before you take another bite.
• Avoid foods that stick together.
• Don't talk while you eat or drink.
• Don’t eat or drink while lying flat.
• Use good posture while eating.

More items...

What is the best diet to prevent aspiration?

What can I do to prevent aspiration?

• Eat in a chair or sit upright while you eat. This will help prevent choking. ...
• Eat small amounts slowly. Do not eat or drink with a straw. ...
• Avoid distractions while you eat. Keep the radio and TV turned off during meals. ...
• Make sure your dentures fit correctly. ...
• Limit spicy foods and caffeine. ...
• Drink water with your meals. ...
• Do not smoke. ...

How to treat aspiration of food?

Treatment for food aspiration consists in performing the Heimlich maneuver in case breathing is completely obstructed. Normal coughing mechanisms should be allowed to continue and encouraged because they help expel blocked food. Once the obstruction is removed from the airways either as a result of coughing or of the Heimlich maneuver, it could ...

What can you eat if you aspirate?

The following are some of the permitted foods:Pureed breads (also called “pre-gelled” breads)Smooth puddings, custards, yogurts, and pureed desserts.Pureed fruits and well-mashed bananas.Pureed meats.Souffles.Well-moistened mashed potatoes.Pureed soups.Pureed vegetables without lumps, chunks, or seeds.

How do you treat someone who aspirated?

Treatment includes supplemental oxygen, steroids, or help from a breathing machine. Depending on the cause of chronic aspiration, you may require surgery. For example, you may get surgery for a feeding tube if you have swallowing problems that don't respond to treatment.

How do you soothe aspiration?

How is aspiration from dysphagia treated?Changing your diet (such as thickening liquids or not having liquids)Changing your position while eating (such as eating upright, tilting your head back, or bending your neck forward)Not eating in bed.Eating smaller bites of food.Eating with supervision.More items...

How do you feed patients on aspiration precautions?

Preventing Aspiration Always chew your food well before swallowing. Eat and drink slowly. Sit up straight when eating or drinking, if you can. If you're eating or drinking in bed, use a wedge pillow to lift yourself up.

Can aspiration heal on its own?

When the respiratory system is healthy and strong, pulmonary aspiration often clears up on its own. When the respiratory system is compromised or a digestive disorder causes chronic pulmonary aspiration, a bacterial infection can occur, causing pneumonia.

What are the first signs of aspiration pneumonia?

SymptomsChest pain.Coughing up foul-smelling, greenish or dark phlegm (sputum), or phlegm that contains pus or blood.Fatigue.Fever.Shortness of breath.Wheezing.Breath odor.Excessive sweating.More items...

What causes aspiration eating?

Aspiration is when something you swallow "goes down the wrong way" and enters your airway or lungs. It can also happen when something goes back into your throat from your stomach. But your airway isn't completely blocked, unlike with choking. People who have a hard time swallowing are more likely to aspirate.

Will food in lungs go away?

Pulmonary aspiration is when you inhale food, stomach acid, or saliva into your lungs. You can also aspirate food that travels back up from your stomach to your esophagus. All of these things may carry bacteria that affect your lungs. Healthy lungs can clear up on their own.

Can aspiration cause sudden death?

The incidence of sudden death from food asphyxiation is relatively low. An older study of hospitalized adult patients, however, found food asphyxiation as a cause of death in 14 of 1,087 (1.3%) autopsies performed over 5 years. Those patients died suddenly, during or shortly after meals.

What happens when an elderly person aspirates?

Dysphagia is highly prevalent condition in older adults living in nursing homes. There is also evidence indicating that aspiration is one of the major health risks for these older adults, which is more likely to result in respiratory infections, aspiration pneumonia and sudden bolus death.

How do you feed an elderly person who can't swallow?

Sitting the person upright in a chair can help direct food away from the airway. Coach your loved one to put a bite of food in his or her mouth, then lower chin to chest before they swallow. This may seem awkward, but it helps block the airway so food goes down the esophagus to the stomach.

How long can you live with aspiration?

While the mortality rate of aspiration pneumonia depends on complications of the disease, the 30-day mortality rate hovers around 21%, with a higher rate of 29.7% in hospital-associated aspiration pneumonia. For uncomplicated pneumonia, the mortality rate is still high, hovering around 5%.

Does aspiration always lead to pneumonia?

Pneumonia from aspiration can occur when your defenses are impaired and the aspirated contents have a large amount of harmful bacteria. You can aspirate and develop pneumonia if your food or drink “goes down the wrong way.” This may happen even if you can swallow normally and have a regular gag reflex.

When should you see a doctor after aspiration?

See a doctor if the following symptoms occur after aspiration: a fever. increased mucus production. chronic coughing.

How long after aspiration do symptoms occur?

Symptoms usually occur within the first hour of aspiration, but almost all patients have symptoms within 2 hours of aspiration. Elicit a history of recurrent pulmonary symptoms from the parents and patient, including the following: Wheezing, bronchospasm. Noisy breathing.

Can you survive aspiration?

While the mortality rate of aspiration pneumonia depends on complications of the disease, the 30-day mortality rate hovers around 21%, with a higher rate of 29.7% in hospital-associated aspiration pneumonia. For uncomplicated pneumonia, the mortality rate is still high, hovering around 5%.

How to prevent aspiration?

To help prevent aspiration, it’s important to pace your feedings. Follow the guidelines below during your feedings to make sure you’re not taking in more than you can digest:

How to prevent aspiration when tube feeding?

Follow these guidelines to prevent aspiration if you’re tube feeding: Sit up straight when tube feeding, if you can. If you’re getting your tube feeding in bed, use a wedge pillow to lift yourself up. You can buy a wedge pillow online or at your local surgical supply store.

What is the term for when food goes into your airway instead of your esophagus?

About Aspiration . Aspiration is when food or liquid goes into your airway instead of your esophagus. Your esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Aspiration can happen when you’re eating, drinking, or tube feeding. It can also happen when you’re vomiting (throwing up) or when you have heartburn.

How to lift yourself up after eating?

Sit up straight when eating or drinking, if you can. If you’re eating or drinking in bed, use a wedge pillow to lift yourself up. You can buy a wedge pillow online or at your local surgical supply store. Stay in an upright position (at least 45 degrees) for at least 1 hour after you eat or drink (see Figure 1).

How to stop aspiration when drinking?

Cut your food into small, bite-sized pieces. Always chew your food well before swallowing. Eat and drink slowly.

How do you know if you have aspiration?

Signs of aspiration. Signs of aspiration include: Coughing. Choking. Gagging. Throat clearing. Vomiting. You and your caregiver should watch for these signs before, during, and after you eat, drink, or tube feed. If you have any of these signs, stop eating, drinking, or tube feeding.

What to do if you have breathing problems?

If you’re having problems breathing or any other emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away.

What are the symptoms of tube feeding aspiration?

Know the signs and symptoms of tube feeding aspiration: increased blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate; decreased oxygen saturation; and new onset audible rhonchi and wheezes.

What causes a patient to aspirate into the lower respiratory tract?

As many as 40% of patients receiving enteral tube feedings aspirate the feedings into their lower respiratory tract, resulting in pneumonia. Dislodged or misplaced enteral feeding tubes, high gastric residual volume (GRV), dysphagia, and poor oral hygiene are all possible causes of aspiration pneumonia.

What is the best diet for dysphagia?

To help people with dysphagia, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics created the National Dysphagia Diet. This diet plan has three levels. Each level is based on the severity of a person’s dysphagia. A level 1 dysphagia diet is the most restrictive. People on this diet should eat only pureed “pudding-like” foods. They should avoid foods with coarse textures.

How to help dysphagia patients?

Follow all instructions about what food and drink you can have. Do swallowing exercises as advised. Do not change your food or liquids, even if your swallowing gets better. Talk with your health care provider first. Tell all health care providers and caregivers that you are on a dysphagia diet.

What Is a level 1 dysphagia diet?

A level 1 dysphagia diet is a special eating plan. Your health care provider may recommend it if you have moderate to severe dysphagia. When you have dysphagia, you have trouble swallowing. You are also at risk for aspiration. Aspiration is when food particles or liquid enter the lungs by accident. It can cause pneumonia and other medical problems. This type of diet can help prevent aspiration.

What to do if you have a blockage in your esophagus?

Blockage in the esophagus (such as from a tumor) If you have severe or moderate dysphagia, you may need to follow the level 1 dysphagia diet as part of your treatment plan. Doing so can help lower your risk for aspiration. Your treatment may also include other therapies. You may need to do special swallowing exercises or take medicine.

How to sit upright while eating?

Before eating, you may need to make some preparations. For example, it may be helpful to sit upright at a 90-degree angle while eating. You may need support pillows to get into the best position. Try to reduce distractions. Changing between solids and liquids may also help.

What happens when you swallow food?

When you swallow, food passes through your mouth and into a part of your throat called the pharynx. From there, it travels through a long tube called the esophagus. It then enters your stomach. This movement is made possible by a series of actions from your muscles in these areas. If you have dysphagia, the muscles don’t work properly. You may not be able to swallow normally.

How to adjust to a new diet?

You may find it easier to adjust to a new diet if your food smells and tastes appealing. Take time to season it . It also may help to prepare meals that are visually appealing. Even though you can’t have certain types of foods, you can still enjoy eating.

How to prepare food for SLP?

Your SLP will give you instructions about how to prepare your food. You may need to not eat certain foods, or make changes to some foods. For example, you may need to puree your food. Make sure to taste and season your food before pureeing it. It will be easier to adjust to a new diet if your food smells and tastes appealing.

How to help dysphagia patients?

Don't change your food or liquids, even if your swallowing gets better. Talk with your health care provider first. Crush medicines and mix them with food as needed. Tell all healthcare providers and caregivers that you are on a dysphagia diet. Explain which foods and liquids you can and cannot have.

What is the IDDsI diet?

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) has created a diet plan or framework for people with dysphagia. The dysphagia diet has levels that rate drinks and foods on a thickness scale from 0 to 7. Drinks are ranked from 0 to 4. Foods are ranked from 3 to 7, depending on thickness. The food levels are:

Why is a dysphagia diet important?

Why a dysphagia diet is needed. When you have dysphagia, you are at risk for aspiration. Aspiration is when food or liquid enters the lungs by accident. It can cause pneumonia and other problems. The foods you eat can affect your ability to swallow. For example, soft foods are easier to swallow than hard foods.

How to adjust to a new diet?

You may also need to make liquids thicker. You can manage your liquids by making thin liquids thicker. This is done by adding a flavorless gel, gum, powder, or other liquid to it. These are called thickeners.

What to do after eating with SLP?

After meals, it’s important to do proper oral care. The SLP can give you instructions for your teeth or dentures. Make sure to not swallow any water during your oral care routine.

What to do if you have trouble breathing?

Call 911 or have someone else call if you have trouble breathing because of food blocking your airway.

How to improve oral food intake?

Taking the time to optimise the person’s position before eating and drinking is essential. According to Alghadir et al (2017), correct positioning improves the speed and safety of swallowing. A physiotherapist can be consulted on how to improve positioning and posture. The aim is usually for a 90° angle at the hips, knees and ankles. The person’s head, feet and arms should be appropriately supported.

How to treat dysphagia in dementia patients?

Treating dysphagia in people with dementia involves a problem-solving approach from the various professionals involved in nutritional management and care. This is where a risk-feeding protocol and accompanying policy can help coordinate and formalise team discussions. The individual’s wishes should remain at the forefront of all decisions.

How to help people with dementia with eating?

People with dementia may take a long time to eat. Staff who help them with eating need to follow each person’s rhythm and establish the appropriate rate of feeding and mouthful size. Hand-over-hand assistance involves the caregiver placing their hands on the hands of the person and initiating the movement or action, prompting the person to complete it. The technique can be used , where adequate, to help people self-feed.

Is aspiration a risk for dementia?

25 March, 2019. People with dementia and dysphagia who are on an oral diet are at high risk of aspiration. Following five key recommendations can increase their safety and quality of life. Abstract. Swallowing ability is not only affected by increasing age but also by dementia. People with advanced dementia will often develop dysphagia, ...

What foods are allowed on mechanical soft diet for dysphagia patients?

Learn More. Foods on a mechanical soft diet for dysphagia patients are chopped, ground or blended and prepared with added liquids to make swallowing easier 2. Foods allowed on a mechanical soft diet for dysphagia include: bread. hot cereal. ready-to-eat cereal soaked in milk. canned fruit. soft cooked vegetables. juice.

How to eat with dysphagia?

A pureed diet may be recommended if you have dysphagia. Pureed food should be smooth, homogeneous and cohesive, or pudding-like. To puree foods, use a blender or food processor and strain to remove any solid foods. Use appropriate liquids when pureeing foods , such as broth or gravy for meats, milk or cream for vegetables and starches and juice for fruits and desserts. Cook foods until soft and tender before pureeing. You may have difficulty meeting your nutritional needs with dysphagia and may benefit from eating several small meals a day versus three large meals. You may also want to add calorie boosters to your foods such as butter or sugar when appropriate.

Can you eat butter with dysphagia?

You may have difficulty meeting your nutritional needs with dysphagia and may benefit from eating several small meals a day versus three large meals. You may also want to add calorie boosters to your foods such as butter or sugar when appropriate. A pureed diet may be recommended if you have dysphagia. You may also want to add calorie boosters ...

What Would You Do in This situation?

History and Assessment Hints

on The Scene

Outcome

Education and Follow-Up

• As many as 40% of patients receiving enteral tube feedings aspirate the feedings into their lower respiratory tract, resulting in pneumonia. Dislodged or misplaced enteral feeding tubes, high gastric residual volume (GRV), dysphagia, and poor oral hygiene are all possible causes of aspiration pneumonia. Enteral nutrition practice recommendations in...

See more on myamericannurse.com

Selected References