Eating and drinking brings pleasure to most; however, dementia can bring about significant changes in one’s communication, cognition, sensation, appetite and ability to eat and drink. When dysphagia and dementia co-occur, speech-language pathologists play a vital role on the interdisciplinary team and should be a cornerstone in care until end of life in this population. This episode focuses the discussion on mealtime modifications to enhance nutrition, hydration and quality of life for these individuals.
Treat the individual, not the diagnosis!
Dementia looks different for each person, and when eating challenges present, viewing the whole picture is crucial to determine any barriers present that may be impacting their nutrition, hydration and quality of life.
Check out show notes at https://www.speechuncensored.com/podcastepisodes/164