As we age, communication and swallowing can become more challenging. That’s where speech pathologists like Sue Keegan step in. At Garden Village, Sue is an important part of our allied health community.
“I have been visiting Garden Village residents for more than 8 years and see numerous residents, in all levels of care. The greatest need has been to support residents who experience difficulty swallowing liquid, food, saliva, medication,” said Sue.
Garden Village is committed to supporting residents with their speech pathology needs. Sue assists a variety of aged care residents with communication and swallowing difficulties, helping them stay connected with loved ones, enjoy meals safely, and maintain their cognitive health.
“There are many causes of swallowing difficulties, some can be temporary, others long term. The most common signs are difficulty chewing food or swallowing medication, frequent coughing during or immediately after eating/drinking, increased mealtime duration, food/fluid spilling from mouth. I assess, diagnose and develop a management plan tailored to the needs of each individual resident. Speech pathologists work as part of a team to help residents with swallowing difficulties to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration while encouraging mealtime enjoyment and safe swallowing,” added Sue.
