Module 4 Lesson 2. Eating, drinking and preventing health problems Preventing aspiration pneumonia If the person is in the late stages of dementia, they may experience swallowing difficulties that can cause a lung infection called aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when food is swallowed in the wrong way and goes into the person’s lungs instead of their stomach. This can then cause an infection. Eating, drinking and feeding methods may need to be modified to prevent this life-threatening problem. Let’s look at an example Faruq has been living with dementia for 10 years and is bedridden. His daughter-in-law, Mahfuza, helps him to eat safely. Recently, she found Faruq has difficulty swallowing soft foods that she makes for him. She also notices that he coughs when he drinks something. He seems to have a high temperature and is admitted to the hospital. Faruq is diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. After a month of treatment in the hospital, Faruq has recovered and is discharged home. The doctor orders a healthy, soft diet and thickened drinks for Faruq to consume at home to prevent future aspiration pneumonia. Check your understandingHelping a person to eat safely. What do you think Mahfuza should do? Please select all the responses that you feel are appropriate. Not pay attention to how Faruq is sitting when he helps her eat.Learn how to make healthy, soft foods and thickened drinks for Faruq.Check Not pay attention to how Faruq is sitting when they are helping him eat. This is not a good response. They should sit Faruq in an upright position which will help him eat and drink better and prevent aspiration pneumonia. Learn how to make healthy, soft food and thickened drinks for Faruq. This is a good response. Providing healthy, soft food and thickened drinks will make it easier for people in the late stage of dementia to continue to eat and drink on their own and maintain a healthy weight. Error: Please select at least one option.Please click ‘check’ to view the answers before continuing.Error: Please type your answers in the text box. Tip Speak to your GP if the person with dementia is having swallowing problems. They may refer you to a speech and language therapist, who manage swallowing problems in people with dementia. A healthy soft diet can be made by hand without using an electric blender. Thickened fluids can be made by adding corn flour to water or other fluids while heating and stirring it, until it thickens. Note: commercial stir-in thickeners are available in the supermarket.