Help and
Support

Caring for your loved one with swallowing difficulties

Caring for a loved one with swallowing difficulties is not always easy, whether your loved one has just started developing their first signs and symptoms or has been managing their swallowing difficulties for many years.

When someone you care for has dysphagia, it’s normal to want to do everything you can to help. There are many things you can do to help, such as:

• Keeping track of medications and medical appointments
• Writing a list of questions and taking notes during your visits with healthcare professionals
• Watching for signs of changes in mood or health, and raising any concerns with the person’s healthcare professionals
• Learning about dysphagia, so you can help your loved one identify any signs or symptoms of swallowing problems or changes in condition

Taking care of someone with dysphagia can be physically and emotionally demanding for the caregiver. Therefore, it’s important for caregivers to also take care of themselves and to reach out for help if feeling overwhelmed.

It may be a good idea to share your feelings with someone you trust or another caregiver who may understand and share in your challenges. Take care of your physical health. Eat healthy and nutritious foods and try to be physically active most days of the week.

Try to have daily conversations about a topic that is not related to dysphagia or the condition that caused it. Keep up with current events and local news to broaden your outlook and keep the conversations going.

Link to join a support group:

Canadian dysphagia virtual support group: A Canadian virtual support group for adults living with dysphagia and their caregivers is hosted by the Aging Swallow Research Lab. It is moderated by licensed speech-language pathologists. Find out more at the Aging Swallow Research Lab: Aging Swallow Research Lab - Support Group.

A support group is not a replacement for standard medical or psychological advice and care but can be an additional valuable resource to help you make connections with others facing similar challenges. Nestle Health Science is not associated with the Aging Swallow Research Lab.