Aspiration & pneumonia help

[DressingGownofDoom]

Hello, my 93 year old grandmother has been in hospital very unwell with pneumonia after aspirating during a vomiting first. We were told she was unlikely to survive. But today the doctor says her bloods and SATs have improved quite a bit although aspiration continues to be a risk.

What the doctors have decided to do now is discontinue antibiotics (as she has finished the course) and also end nil by mouth - she will be given thickened fluids and purées despite the continuing risk of aspirating. She will be discharged back into nursing care at some stage hopefully.

What I don't know is what happens now. Is the risk of aspirating serious, despite her being on an adjusted diet? I don't know what to expect the future to be like. Has anyone been in this situation before?

Aspirating is when fluids or small food particles go into the lungs. They attract bacteria and cause respiratory illnesses.

SALT will have assessed and it'll be their advice for thickened fluids and purée diet which reduces risk of food particles bits or fluids getting into her lungs .

Nurses in NH will be experts at managing this, she will remain risk of aspiration or swallow difficulties but that doesn't mean she won't have a good quality of life. Sometimes people recover and their swallow improves a bit but sometimes not. It's good news as one extreme people can require peg (tube) feeding when swallow risks are too high. And she's out of the woods quite a bit. I bet you are relieved!

Just talk to nursing staff in the home, as they'll explain how they manage the risks, and what they can do to make food interesting for grandma so that she still enjoys it. Eg Purée it separately, add spices/seasoning/ etc Some places use moulds (like a chicken shaped mould , vegetable shaped mould if that's important to the person, so purées food can be made up look more appetising! )