Foods with Dysphagia

[ADAngel]

Hello all,

So I used to care for an elderly man with Parkinson's with whom I am still in contact with. His wife recently shared with me that he has been diagnosed with dysphagia and is on a diet of pureed foods. It has been a while since I have worked as a CNA but I am currently a BSN student (my first day of clinicals is tomorrow at a long-term care wing of a VA hospital); so I can not remember what types of foods are for pureed diets. I remember certain things that are pureed, thick milkshakes, pudding, etc. So here in lies my question, I would like to bring in a snack for him this weekend: what type of snacks are allowed for pureed diets. I thought about making some sherbet or ice cream, or pudding. When I had helped him out a few months back, he used to love chocolate and cookies - are these still allowed? Any tips or advice is appreciated. I have researched a bit on the internet but the types of foods are something that I already know about or not very appetizing.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Click on the link below to read a patient education pamphlet on acceptable foods as well as the food items to avoid when on a pureed diet.

http://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/documents/Patient%20Education/PureedDiet-trh.pdf

[ADAngel]

Thank you! That was really helpful and clear. I will probably stick with the ice cream idea but I will double check with his wife to make sure that is allowed. Would it be a violation of HIPPA if I called the facility to ask if ice cream is allowed in his diet? HIPPA is still in the gray area for me, so I am still a little unclear about all the contingencies.

[blackbird singing]

Chocolate pudding is common on the dysphagia trays they have where I work. Maybe ice cream, but isn't it thinner when it melts? Aaand, I think they have some flavored thickener packets at grocery stores (better than honey or nectar). Also, sometimes I see family bring in Mio flavor water enhancers (MiO Liquid Water Enhancer-It's a remote control of fruit flavor) so that way the pt is still able to drink water without it tasting like mud!