Have you ever been cooking at home and the delicious smell of the food makes your mouth water with anticipation? Have you ever been out at a restaurant, seen your delectable meal arrive and just the look of it makes your stomach grumble louder? This is our digestive system and more importantly our swallowing mechanism...
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of individuals and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. (WHO definition of palliative care). There...
Good bowel health is important for people of all ages. Emptying your bowels regularly and with ease is an important part of good bowel health. Some people may experience bowel problems as they get older and it is common for constipation to affect two out of three residents in Aged Care homes. Constipation is usually...
Swallowing medication is a significant issue for 15-30% of the healthy population, and this has become more problematic in recent years with the increased use of tablets and capsules as main form of medical treatment across a variety of medical conditions. It is even more of a problem for those individuals who experience dysphagia. As...
Pressure injury prevalence has been reported at 16-23% in combined hospital and residential aged care populations (1,2). Chronic leg ulcers affect 1-3% of people aged over 60years, with incidence increasing up to 5-10% in the 80+ age group. (3,4). Wounds can include pressure ulcers, wounds post-surgery or trauma and wounds or ulcers as a result...
Communication problems associated with hearing loss and dementia are very common for residents living in aged care facilities and 95% of residents live with at least one communication disorder. Aphasia is a complex condition not widely known in the community, however, it can cause devastating communication loss. It is a language disorder that can occur...
Aged care residents are a vulnerable group of the population at higher risk of food borne illness. Consequently, it is vital that all aged care facilities are following standard 3.3.1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. This month we explore the topic of food borne illness in more detail. By considering the following...
Texture modified diets are often recommended for people who have difficulty chewing or swallowing because they require less chewing. They hold together and move more slowly through the mouth and throat, thus allowing more time for airway protection. These diets allow people to continue to eat balanced, nutritious meals. Texture modified diets may also be...
As we age, bowel health assumes a greater importance for a number of reasons, including: increased prevalence of constipation, incontinence, bowel obstruction and other bowel disorders. Bowel regularity varies for everyone. For some individuals, bowel motions occur daily, while for others, every second or third day is “normal” for them. Constipation should be diagnosed based...
It is often said that we eat with or through our eyes. The same can be said of taste and smell. Eating involves 2 senses working together – taste and smell. Your taste buds identify flavour – sweet, salty, sour, bitter. Your sense of smell allows enjoyment of food via the aroma. If your sense...
