My Grandma with Dementia drinking from a Sipper Cup and the Spitting Reflex (December 2010)

Advanced Dementia and controversial feeding difficulties for my Grandma, Christmas 2010:

Here on this video we see my Grandma feeding wtih a sipper cup (with thickened nutrition supplement). At the end of this video, we see the Spitting Reflex which has been stopping my Grandma from being able to drink at all.

Grandma Rose is 90 years old, in high care in a nursing home. Even this week, she loves singing and listening to music and recognises some family, friends, staff and visitors. Grandma joins in our conversations with a slurred word or three, remembers our names and recites poetry. She has advanced dementia, and did have a stroke 6 months ago; although she is otherwise physically healthy. She is able to indicate if she wants to drink, or to say No when she's had enough to drink.

However Grandma has recently not been able to eat, prevented by a worsening spitting reflex whenever a spoon or sipper cup is put to the front of her mouth and lips. We have been told that we should accept palliative care, and that she is choosing not to eat. Our family believe however Grandma still wants to eat, but physically is prevented by this spitting reflex and global cognitive processing decline. So my Father currently is feeding Grandma himself every day at the nursing home.

Controversially- Using a calf teat (as it has a longer length nipple to human bottle teats) and infrequently then using a sipper cup she is able to drink by sucking and swallowing naturally; and my Father is trying to help her to do this . Grandma's treating Doctor had suggested this method of feeding. He explained that to combat the spitting reflex, we could try to illicit the primitive human search, suck and swallow reflexes in synchrony; by:
1) first using honey on a rubber teaspoon or honey smeared on a gloved little finger, and to gently dab this on the corner outside of Grandma's mouth so she will search for the taste;
2) He then suggested stimulating gently the inside of her mouth cheek, to stimulate the sucking reflex; so Grandma relaxes her mouth open
3) Then to place the cow's teet (also covered in honey) towards the back side of her tongue; so she can naturally suck and swallow at her own pace.

This really seems to be working so well at present :).

There seems a minimised risk of aspiration. However, it appears controversial, as there is no current evidence base thus no "best practise" guidelines to follow on Calf teat feeding.

Good on you Dad for caring for our Grandma with such love, for respecting her dignity of life, whilst she is actively participating in feeding and interacting with others.

Thankyou to all the staff, family and friends who love and care for our Grandma Rose. :-)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Dementia
• feeding
• palliative care
• Alzheimer's disease
• drinking from sipper cup

[JESUSanswers1]

My grandmother has been battling dementia for about 5 years now. She has began to stop eating well. They are pureeing her food right now, but we may have to start using the sippy cup. I never thought about it until now. God bless you all, and your grandma especially. As long as she has breath in her body, I pray for her healing and recovery if at all possible.. Thank you Jesus!

[luismonk1]

I hate the speed in which some people are placed on palliative care, though in the right circumstances it is the right thing to do. It is blatantly obvious this lady still has the desire to eat and drink so I don't see how this can be controversial! If she was being force fed it would be terrible, but this is a solution. Well done to you for taking an active role and not letting Rose suffer more than she already is. :)

[Shrink18]

awww

[Shrink18]

so sweet <3

[XxRombusterxX]

I wish her nothing but the best man.