Supporting safe swallowing of care home residents with dysphagia: How does the care delivered compare with guidance from speech and language therapists?

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Griffin, Hannah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6874-9825, Wilson, Jennie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-9662, Tingle, Alison, Görzig, Anke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7623-0836 and Loveday, Heather ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2259-8149 (2024) Supporting safe swallowing of care home residents with dysphagia: How does the care delivered compare with guidance from speech and language therapists? International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders.

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Official URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1...

Abstract

Introduction: Dysphagia affects up to 70% of care home residents, increasingmorbidity and hospital admissions. Speech and language therapists make recom-mendations to support safe nutrition but have limited capacity to offer ongoingguidance. This study aimed to understand if recommendations made to supportsafe and effective care are implemented and how these relate to the actual caredelivered.Methods: Eleven mealtimes with residents with dysphagia were observed dur-ing 2020 using a tool capturing 12 elements of expected practice. Staff actionsduring mealtimes were compared with adherence to residents’ care plans andspeech and language therapist recommendations.Results: Written recommendations predominantly focused on food and fluidmodification. Observations (n = 66) revealed food texture, posture, and alertnesswere adhered to on 90% of occasions, but alternating food and drink, promptingand ensuring swallow completed adherence was less than 60%. Thickened fluidsfrequently did not align with required International Dysphagia Diet Standardi-sation Initiative levels. Nutrition care provided in the dining room was less safedue to a lack of designated supervision.Conclusion: Care homes need to be supported to establish a safe swallowingculture to improve residents’ safety and care experience.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1111/1460-6984.13015
Subjects:	Medicine and health > Primary health
Depositing User:	Marc Forster
Date Deposited:	21 Aug 2024 08:16
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 11:03
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/12330