What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulties with eating, drinking, or swallowing. It can cause serious health complications such as chest infections, aspiration pneumonia, choking incidents, malnutrition and dehydration.
Dysphagia is associated with reduced quality of life, social isolation, depression and mortality. It is also associated with lengthy hospital admissions and costs to health and social care.
What are the benefits of dysphagia training?
Training will provide participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to provide high quality care for individuals with dysphagia.
It will support to improve compliance with eating and drinking recommendations from local Speech and Language Therapy services.
By training your care team you will be improving patient safety, reducing the risks associated with dysphagia and improving the quality of life for the people you support.
Who is at higher risk of dysphagia?
Dysphagia can occur at any age, often due to underlying conditions. Common causes include:
- A condition that affects the nervous system or brain e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health disorders and antipsychotic medications
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Respiratory conditions e.g. COPD
- Head and neck cancers
- Developmental conditions e.g. cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome
- Old age
Who should attend this training?
This training if for anyone supporting individuals with dysphagia. It is best practice for all care workers to have the skills and competence to support these individuals.
It is the responsibility of the care providers to ensure that all staff are sufficiently trained to work with people with dysphagia.
Reference:
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Guidance on the Management of Dysphagia in Care Homes