For over 40 years, Janet Standifer has worked in various roles within the healthcare field. In 1982, after earning her Master’s degree as a Speech-Language Pathologist from Southwest Texas State University, she began her professional career working in a variety of settings to provide direct patient care to adults as well as clinical interventions for people diagnosed with progressive neurocognitive impairments. Today, Janet works as a Certified Dementia Trainer and Consultant at J Standifer Consulting, LLC: Dementia in Perspective, where she provides intensive dementia education as well as individual and group training workshops.

Janet joins us to discuss why your loved one with dementia may experience trouble with swallowing. We discuss what dysphagia is, its various causes and symptoms, and how a speech-language pathologist can help. We discuss why people diagnosed with dementia are at a high risk of developing difficulties with swallowing and when you should speak with a physician if your loved one begins experiencing difficulties. We also discuss what Caregiver Stress Syndrome is, how it impacts a caregiver’s quality of life, and what caregivers can do to help improve their quality of life while caring for their loved one.

“Caring for a person with dysphagia and dementia presents a whole set of issues and challenges. So caregivers, please, consult with your physician who could help you find the right resources to help you.” - Janet Standifer

This week on the Eye on the Caregiver Podcast:

●     Understanding dysphagia

●     Why dementia patients are at a high risk of developing dysphagia

●     Debunking the myth around dysphagia and behavioral issues

●     The symptoms of dysphagia

●     When to speak to a physician

●     What caregivers can do to help loved ones with dementia that struggle to swallow

●     How caregivers can improve their own quality of life while caring for their loved one

●     Understanding what Caregiver Stress Syndrome is and how it impacts your quality of life

●     The quality of life considerations caregivers should consider

●     Using a feeding tube vs hand feeding a loved one with dysphagia and dementia

Resources Mentioned:

●     American Geriatrics Society feeding tubes in advanced dementia position statement

Connect with Janet Standifer:

●     Dementia in Perspective

●     Phone: (817) 901-4658

●     Janet Standifer on LinkedIn

Keeping Our Eye on the Caregiver

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