Feeding elderly people is very important they come with various challenges lack of teeth, difficulty in swallowing(neurological issues), and confusion due to dementia, are some of the examples.
We are going to discuss how we address them effectively in Turiya.
Assisted feeding
Assisted feeding is a method of providing nutrition to patients who are unable to feed themselves due to a physical or cognitive impairment. Assisted feeding can be done with a spoon, fork, or other utensils, or through a feeding tube such as a Ryles tube Simple assistance Is what is required for most of them like completely grinding the feeds and making them semisolid or liquid so that they don't need to grind. Also, a person to remind about feeds and supervise makes a huge difference. our nurses are extremely good at helping our patients with this technique successfully.
The most important challenge is to remind them about water intake so that they don't get dehydrated.
Ryles Tube feeding
A Ryles tube, also known as a nasogastric tube or NG tube, is a tube that is passed through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach. It is commonly used for patients who are unable to eat or drink by mouth, or for those who require a specific type of nutrition. Ryles tube feeding involves the delivery of liquid nutrition, such as formula or a specialized diet, through the tube and into the stomach. Formula feeds are quite expensive so we can use the patient's normal diet made into a liquid and give it through a Ryles tube. For protein needs, we use either ensure or proteins through the Ryles tube. Our team of nurses is very good at doing this routinely.
When using a Ryles tube for assisted feeding, the patient is seated upright and the tube is inserted through the nose and down the throat. The tube is then secured in place with tape or a special device. The formula or specialized diet is then delivered through the tube and into the stomach.
Ryles tube feeding and assisted feeding are typically used for patients who have difficulty swallowing, such as those with neurological disorders, or for patients who are recovering from surgery or other medical procedures. They can also be used for patients who are unable to eat or drink by mouth due to a physical or cognitive impairment. It is important to note that Ryles tube feeding and assisted feeding should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional will be able to determine the appropriate type of nutrition and the appropriate mode of delivery for the patient.
In addition, it is important for the patient as well as the staff to be properly trained on how to care for and maintain the Ryles tube. This includes cleaning the tube, checking for proper placement, and monitoring for complications such as infection or blockages. Overall, Ryles tube feeding and assisted feeding are important tools for providing nutrition to patients who are unable to eat or drink by mouth. They can help to ensure that the patient receives the appropriate nutrition and can improve their overall health and well-being. However, it is important for these methods to be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional and for the patient to be properly trained on how to care for the tube.
Other specialized techniques such as percutaneous gastrostomy feeding is also a technique we use in advanced malignancy. For any clarification on the above issues please contact Turiya.