Seniors can find it complicated to keep track of their medications. When you add in difficulty swallowing those medicines, the situation becomes frustrating. Helping seniors easily take their medicine is important to ensure they get the right treatment and maintain their health. This blog will discuss some of seniors’ most common problems swallowing medications and offer tips that make it easier. With help and support from loved ones and home care providers, seniors can stop dreading medication time and approach it more confidently.
Understanding Swallowing Issues For Seniors
Swallowing problems, called dysphagia, are more common as people age. This is because of things like less muscle strength, less saliva production, and changes in the shape of the throat. These problems can make it hard or scary to take medicines, which could cause seniors to miss doses or attempt to take their medication incorrectly. This is especially significant if seniors have had issues swallowing their entire lives, as many people do. Continue reading to see why this might be the case.
Size and shape of pills: Many medicines come in big or oddly shaped pills that can be hard to swallow, especially for people who don’t have good oral coordination.
Dry mouth: Less saliva can make it hard to swallow dry pills. This is often a side effect of getting older or taking certain medicines, but it can also be an issue in the younger years.
Fear and anxiety: The fear of choking on pills can cause anxiety, which makes it even harder for seniors to take their medicines. This fear might start when they’re older, but often, it’s a fear they’ve lived with for years.
Tips For Making Medication Time Easier
Some seniors may simply need gentle coaxing to take their medication, but for others, the issue is a real concern. When this happens, loved ones and home care aides may need to think outside the box.
One way to eliminate the issue is to talk to the medical team about whether the medicine they need is available in liquid form. Most of the time, liquid forms are easier to take. However, the home care aide will need to ensure proper measuring to get the right dose. The doctor might also suggest crushing the medicine or breaking it in half. This requires a pill splitter/crusher to ensure it’s done properly.
Seniors can also be encouraged to take their pills with soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, or pudding. This can make it easier for the pills to go down the throat and is a great option for medications that don’t need to be taken alone. Taking a sip of water or having their favorite drink nearby can also help.
Suppose a liquid medication is unavailable, and the medical team doesn’t approve splitting or crushing it. In that case, the home care team can work with seniors on proper swallowing methods, such as tucking their chin or tilting their heads to see what works best. Also, seniors might try practicing with candy, like Tictacs, to become less fearful of swallowing.
Helping seniors with swallowing problems and getting the most out of their medications is important for their general health and well-being. Seniors can take their medications more easily and confidently with the support of loved ones and their home care team.
Sources: https://dailycaring.com/7-helpful-tips-for-seniors-and-caregivers-managing-dysphagia/
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/pill-swallowing-methods-174655.htm
https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/06/difficult-or-painful-swallowing-dysphagia-can-be-treated