Toward the end of my father’s life, he had difficulty chewing food and eventually swallowing. I didn’t know it then. One morning, while feeding him breakfast at the nursing home, I stuffed more and more food in his mouth, thinking this might stimulate him to swallow.
Upon seeing his stuffed cheeks, the aide who usually helped him eat exclaimed, “Brenda what are you doing?”
Embarrassed I confessed, “He won’t eat!”
What did I know?

I’m embarrassed to admit it now, thanks to Roya Sayadi, PhD, CCC-SLP and Joel Herskowitz’s, MD new book. Swallow Safely educates and empowers caregivers to prevent those with swallowing problems from choking.

Highlights:

Four-steps to the swallowing process, p. 15.
It’s amazing how many of us don’t even focus on our eating; yet, with an estimated 600 swallows daily, a lot can go wrong!

Difference between a “café coronary” and a heart attack, p. 49. (more…)