Healthy Habits: Staying Hydrated

June is National Dysphagia Awareness Month, and to support caregivers and those with swallowing disorders, speech language pathologist, Jennifer Baquet, MA, CCC-SLP, recently demonstrated creative and delicious recipes to stay hydrated — like popsicles and a margarita—especially during the hot summer months. 

Around 18 million Americans suffer from dysphagia, a swallowing disorder, which can make every meal and sip of water feel like drowning as the disorder makes swallowing difficult. The main risk is aspirating, or inhaling food/liquid into the airway and lungs, which then can cause pneumonia. These individuals must rely on thickened liquids, but options are limited and often unappealing. As a result, more than 200,000 short-term hospital stay patients with dysphagia are discharged with dehydration each year. 

 

Jennifer Baquet, MA, CCC-SLP, is a senior clinician with Language Fundamentals, which provides services at the Amsterdam Nursing Home in New York City.  She was part of a team at Amsterdam that helped develop and implement an innovative dining service program for those with dysphagia. They created new and popular drink flavors like kiwi strawberry, and even were able to serve broths or a resident’s own favorite tea.

Interview provided by Thick-IT.