A tough fact to swallow
SWALLOWING is something most Australians take for granted, but for some Australians their inability to swallow properly is putting them at risk of choking.
Choking is a leading cause of premature death in nursing homes. After falls, choking is the biggest killer of residents.
While around 15 to 30 per cent of people aged 65 and over living in the community have a swallowing difficulty, this figure rises to over 50 per cent for older Australians living in nursing homes. People who suffer from age- related conditions such as stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease are also likely to have a swallowing difficulty.
An analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics population and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare nursing home data on deaths reported to coroners, found that after falls, choking was the second largest cause of death in aged care facilities.
These figures highlight that older Australians living with swallowing difficulties should be recognised as a vulnerable population that requires specific protections and safeguards.
In a recent submission to government, Speech Pathology Australia argued that careful consideration should be given to older adults with swallowing difficulties, in particular, those who are dependent on assistance to eat and drink.
The association contended that failure to provide this support was a form of neglect and placed the person at significant risk of death through choking.
The average Australian swallows 900 times a day. That’s around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute while awake and even more during meals. It’s something every Australian is doing.
The association estimates about one million Australians have difficulty with swallowing. However, swallowing disorders remain largely invisible, poorly understood by the general community, and rarely addressed in government policy.
Swallowing problems can mean food, drinks or saliva gets into the lungs ( aspiration) and this can cause lung infections ( pneumonia).
Severe swallowing complications, including choking, can lead to death, while other swallowing complications can lead to poor nutrition, dehydration, health complications, and social isolation.
Speech Pathology Australia’s national president Gaenor Dixon said “A swallowing problem can occur at any stage of life. Swallowing is a skill developed from infancy. Babies born prematurely or children with abnormalities with the structure of their head, neck and face, such as cleft lip or palate can have difficulty feeding.
“Almost half of everyone who has had a stroke will have a swallowing problem. And 69 per cent of people with Parkinson’s disease will have swallowing difficulties, as will 25 per cent of people with Multiple Sclerosis.
“It’s up to all of us to learn more about swallowing difficulties and how they impact on the lives of our friends, neighbours and our wider community.”