Older adults are prone to choking while eating because their swallowing function deteriorates with age. People experience a loss in muscle strength in the mouth and throat. This can be due to age or medication usage. Many older folks have less saliva so their mouth and throat are less moist. Aspiration pneumonia is a possible complication from choking. This can be dangerous for older adults so it is good to know how to prevent it. Read on to learn more about the choking risks in older adults and some prevention tips!
Tips to Prevent Choking in Older Adults
Choking is commonly seen in older adults due to various reasons. One of the main ones includes the loss of muscle strength due to aging. It is something we have to take note of to keep well and safe. Here are some tips that can help older adults prevent choking while eating:
- Chew food well. Take your time to chew the food into smaller pieces before swallowing them.
- Take small bites. Use small spoons so you can control the portion size of each mouth. Take about half to one teaspoon of food at a time.
- Make sure that your dining area has enough lighting and it is free from distractions such as the television so that you can focus on eating.
- Sit up straight while you are eating. Do not eat while lying down.
- Eat slowly. Do not rush during your mealtimes but take your time to eat.
- Chin tuck. Turn your head down and tuck your chin toward your chest. Then, bend your body forward when swallowing food. This will allow greater ease of swallowing and tilts the epiglottis backward to prevent food from entering the airway.
- Don’t drink liquids while eating. You can alternate between eating food and drinking liquids. Take small sips of liquids at a time when you do so.
- Don’t talk while eating. Talking can cause the epiglottis to open.
If after taking the above steps to prevent choking, you continue to experience choking while eating, you can consider going to the doctor to check on your chewing and swallowing capabilities.
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FAQs
The patient should chew their food properly, drink slowly and avoid distractions, such as watching TV or chatting with others, so the patient is more able to concentrate on the act of swallowing. The patient should sit up straight while eating and avoid laying down right after the meal.
How to prevent choking in older adults? ›
The patient should chew their food properly, drink slowly and avoid distractions, such as watching TV or chatting with others, so the patient is more able to concentrate on the act of swallowing. The patient should sit up straight while eating and avoid laying down right after the meal.
What are 5 ways to prevent choking? ›
You can help prevent your child from choking.
- Have your child sit up while eating (no lying down, crawling, or walking).
- Have your child sit in a high chair or other safe place.
- Avoid letting your child eat in the car or stroller.
- Keep mealtimes calm. Avoid distractions, disruptions, and rushing when eating.
Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew food thoroughly and eat more slowly. If you have difficulty swallowing liquids, there are products you can buy to thicken liquids. Trying foods with different textures to see if some cause you more trouble.
Why is choking more common in elderly care homes? ›
It is because of factors such as dementia and/or Alzheimer's, natural aging, medical conditions or medications, poor hiring in the facility, and inadequate medical treatment. According to the National Safety Council, choking is the fourth most common cause of unintentional injury death.
What do adults choke on the most? ›
Most common choking foods
- Hot dog.
- Hard candy.
- Chewing gum.
- Nuts and seeds.
- Chunks of meat or cheese.
- Whole grapes.
- Popcorn.
- Chunks of peanut butter.
Risk Factors for Choking
Certain behaviors can put a person at risk for choking, such as talking or laughing with the mouth full or eating too fast. Medical conditions (such as a neurological or muscular condition that affects the person's ability to chew, swallow or both) can increase risk for choking.
What is the number one cause of choking? ›
Toys, household items and foods can all be a choking hazard. The most common cause of nonfatal choking in young children is food. At least one child dies from choking on food every five days in the U.S., and more than 12,000 children are taken to a hospital emergency room each year for food-choking injuries.
What causes me to get choked easily? ›
Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as: a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.
What age group is most at risk for choking Why? ›
Children ages 3 years and younger are particularly vulnerable to choking risks because younger children are still learning to chew and swallow food and often put new objects in their mouths. Parents and guardians can help prevent their child from choking on food by keeping to the following tips.
Person features that increase choking risk relate to inadequate dentition, difficulty maintaining posture and positioning, fatigue during meals and impaired function as a result of medication and poor decision-making capacity. A loss of dentition affects healthy and frail elders.
What is the first aid for choking elderly? ›
Bend the person over at the waist to face the ground. Strike five separate times between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Give five abdominal thrusts. If back blows don't remove the stuck object, give five abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver.
What is the number one cause of choking in adults? ›
Choking can be caused by any of the following: Eating too fast, not chewing food well, or eating with dentures that do not fit well. Drinking alcohol (even a small amount of alcohol affects awareness) Being unconscious and breathing in vomit.
