OT- My grandmother need a meal replacement shake

She is 82 and not doing too good lately. She has CHF, Afib and a touch of pneumonia. She has lost 8 lbs. recently. She has a habit of choking on her food (especially rice) and even drinks. She inhales while she swallows and cant help it. Im looking for a GOOD QUALITY meal replacement for her.

sounds like she is at risk for asperating.  i would not do anything on your own.  i would consult her doctor and ask for recommendations.

OMGoodness! I never even thought about it like that. I told my Mom she's gonna need a tube. I'd like to try her on a meal replacement drink though. Maybe a straw would help?

If she is losing her ability to swallow properly, a straw will likely make things MUCH worse.

Lora

Yeah, if she's inhaling when she swallows, she's at risk for breathing in (aspirating) whatever drink you give her.  When you get food or liquid in your lungs, it can cause pneumonia and be life threatening.  That's why they don't want you to eat after midnight the night before surgery, by the way - you might vomit under anesthesia and then you could aspirate it and it could kill you.

Ensure is probably suitable for her, but I would check with her doc. 

Kelly said both things I was going to mention. 

Unfortunately -- and I hesitate to mention this, because I don't want to upset you... but at the same time I do want you to  understand what may be happening and the importance of involving her physician -- many times when elderly people are ill and begin a serious physical decline, their ability to swallow disappears completely and it becomes a choice between a feeding tube (in the stomach) or allowing their body to "progress" naturally while only providing hydration through an IV (with the ultimate result of death, of course, when they are not able to eat for an extended period of time).

Please do not attempt to deal with this on your own.  She needs medical care.

Lora

You need to consult with her physican, and maybe they can do an upper GI to check to see if she is silently aspirating. They may recommend thickned liquids with a thickener you can purchase OTC like simply thick or thick it. Good luck but this really needs to be discussed with the doc to prevent any lung problems.

Sorry, meant to say a swallow study. That's what happens when you are watching TV and typing. They did one on my daughter and she has to take medication and use thickener in all her liquids. Some insurances will cover thickener and meal replacements like ensure. Hope your grandmom gets better! 

Your grandmother is beautiful.

I agree with everything that has been said.

Your grandmother would benefit from a speech therapy evaluation.  They can do a modified barium swallow and determine if she is getting anything into her lungs when she swallows.  Often times speech therapist can also work with patients to improve swallowing ability and make recommendations about the need for thickened liquids.

A speech therapy evaluation does require a doctors order so definitely involve her primary care physician.

She went to her PCP today. Thats  how I know whats wrong. Im not her care taker my  Mom is. Im just "thinking"...