Category: Regency Health Tips

Dry Mouth: A Minor Aging Problem That’s Not So Minor

Posted on by Judah

close up of senior woman's white teethAround 20 percent of seniors experience dry mouth—a lack of saliva in the mouth. While this may sound like a minor annoyance that can be solved by drinking more, it’s not quite so simple.

Dry mouth, most often a side effect of medications, can affect not only your oral health but also the overall health of your body. Furthermore, it can seriously hit your quality of life and self-image.

In this article, we’ll discuss what causes dry mouth, how it affects your overall health, and how you can treat it.

What is Dry Mouth?

Also called xerostomia, dry mouth is most common in seniors. Saliva production drops by around 30 percent as we age, leaving a dryer environment in the mouth.

Further compounding this are the 400+ medications that can worsen a dry mouth. Saliva reduction is a side effect in drugs used for many common conditions, such as high blood pressure, incontinence, depression, etc.

Less saliva creates an acidic environment in the mouth, which is the main contributor to tooth and gum problems. That’s because plaque—a corrosive mix of bacteria and food particles—is much more likely to form in the dryer, more acidic mouth. Plaque build-up leads, in turn, to gum inflammation. This is especially true with seniors, whose gums naturally recede with age.

Gum inflammation is linked to health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In addition, gum inflammation and disease will lead to losing teeth—which will always shorten lifespan.

Symptoms of Dry Mouth

If you are a relative to an elderly person, remember that they probably won’t be forthcoming with details about their dry mouth.

When checking on your loved one who lives alone, you need to be observant and notice all changes or symptoms. This is especially so for dry mouth, when many of the symptoms are easily noticeable.

Here are the general symptoms of an excessively dry mouth:

  • bad breath
  • splitting or cracking of the lips
  • split or sore skin at the corners of the mouth
  • dryness in the mouth
  • taste disorders
  • refusing to eat favorite foods
  • fungal infections in the mouth
  • increased need to drink water, especially at night
  • inflammation of the tongue
  • tongue ulcers
  • painful tongue
  • lipstick sticking to teeth
  • more tooth decay and plaque
  • trouble speaking
  • problems swallowing and chewing—especially dry and crumbly foods, such as crackers or cereals
  • problems with dentures
  • denture sores
  • tongue sticking to the palate
  • sticky or stringy saliva

If you notice your loved one seems to be having some of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with the dentist as soon as possible. You may want to consider using a geriatric dentist, since they will be most knowledgeable about oral health problems plaguing seniors.

How to Treat Dry Mouth

Even before you get to the dentist, there are many things you can do to reduce the dryness in your mouth.

Some easy ways to keep the mouth lubricated are:

  • Chew sugar-free gum or sucking hard sugarless candies. These can stimulate saliva production and alleviate many of the symptoms.
  • Sip water throughout the day.
  • Rinse with water several times a day.
  • Use antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day, but avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
  • Don’t sleep with your dentures.
  • Crunch on hard vegetables such as carrots and celery.

People with dry mouth should avoid smoking, sugary or acidic foods and drinks, dry foods, spicy foods, or extremely hot or cold drinks.

If your doctor discovers which of your medications is causing your dry mouth, he may be able to alter your dosage or prescribe an alternative that doesn’t cause these symptoms. If the underlying cause either can’t be found or can’t be changed, your doctor may prescribe a medication that stimulates saliva production.

You should also pay special attention to your dental hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends older adults should see their dentist twice a year, and adults over age 75 should go three times a year.

Dry mouth is unpleasant and unhealthy, but it is not an inevitable part of aging. If you or your loved one is suffering from dry mouth, see your dentist to treat it as soon as possible.

First Day of Fall: Do You Know How to Prevent Falls?

Posted on by Judah
Photo of Autumn leaves hanging on tree branch in park
The start of Fall reminds us to be aware of falls.

The nights are turning cooler, the air is crisper, and the leaves are changing colors.

Fall is definitely here. That means it’s time for Falls Prevention Awareness Day.

Tomorrow is the Fall Equinox, otherwise known as the first day of Autumn.

The National Council on Aging has taken this opportunity to remind seniors about fall prevention and safety.

This week, in an interesting coincidence, is also National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. One of the main reasons patients join our rehabilitation program at Regency Nursing and Rehab is for post-fall rehabilitation.

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. They are also a major cause of hip fractures, and cause more than half of all fatal head injuries.

Because our bones weaken as we age, seniors are much more likely to sustain serious injuries from falling. Sustaining a hip or knee fracture in old age can cause significant long-term disability. Very often, the fall victim can not regain their previous level of functioning and may require full-time help for the rest of their life.

At Regency Rehab, our goal is help our patients regain as much function as possible, so they can return to their homes, communities, and independent lifestyles. Of course, preventing the injury—by preventing the fall—is better than any therapy we can offer.

Here is a resource you need to help you and your loved ones prevent falls:

How To Prevent Senior Falls—The Regency Nursing Centers Checklist

This is a useful checklist for fall prevention and safety. Print it out and tour your (or your elderly parent’s) home, noting what needs to be updated. The main points to keep in mind are:

  • Keep hallways and living areas free of clutter.
  • Use enough lighting around your home to reduce shadows and dark areas. Place night lights in strategic areas around the house.
  • Store the things you use often within arm’s reach, and save the hard-to-reach cabinets for items you rarely or never use.
  • Bathrooms can be a real falling hazard. Use non-skid surfaces, grab bars, and any other safety mechanisms that can help prevent falls.

You may also want to review your loved one’s medications with his or her doctor, to check if any of them cause loss of balance or dizziness.

Falling can happen to anyone, even young and healthy adults. Minimize your chances by setting up your living space properly, and reducing tripping hazards.

Happy Fall! (The season, we mean.)

How Seniors Can Prepare for Emergencies

Posted on by Judah

Hurricane Florence is making the news as the first major hurricane of the 2018 season. Its winds have been battering North Carolina all Thursday, and devastating storm surges and destructive winds are expected when it makes landfall early this morning.

Here in New Jersey our forecast is much calmer for the next few days, but make no mistake: hurricane season has arrived.

While the Southern portion of the East Coast tends to bear the brunt of these fierce storms, New Jersey has not been untouched in the past few years. Hurricane Sandy, of course, was the most destructive hurricane ever recorded in New Jersey, and some communities are still recovering now, 6 years later.

Several other hurricanes and tropical storms in the last few years have swept past our state, leaving damage and power outages in their wakes.

New Jersey has a large percentage of seniors, the most vulnerable population in a hurricane or any other extreme weather event. Today we’ll cover some important safety tips for seniors during hurricane season.

Stay Informed

The biggest cause of weather-related injuries and deaths is ignorance. Seniors who live alone and do not know a weather event is coming can be in serious danger. If your elderly loved one lives alone, make sure they’re aware of the weather forecast.

In any case of extreme weather, check on your elderly neighbors or loved ones in advance to make sure they’re prepared.

Seniors should keep their radio tuned to local weather stations so they can check the weather daily.

Switch Your Benefits to Direct Deposit

This is a good idea in general for seniors. Letting your Social Security benefit check come in the mail can put your put money at risk of theft. And after extreme weather, your mail service can be disrupted for days or weeks. To avoid any delays that can cause you to fall behind on paying your bills, you can choose to have your benefits deposited directly into your checking account, or onto a prepaid debit card. Call (800) 333-1795 to set it up.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Seniors should keep enough emergency supplies in their home to last at least three days. Here are some things to stockpile in a safe, accessible place:

  • Bottled water—one gallon per person per day, for at least three days. You can use this for both drinking and sanitation, if necessary.
  • Non-perishable food, for three days. Tuna, canned vegetables, crackers, and beef jerky are all good options. Make sure to include a can opener!
  • A week’s supply of all prescription medications or treatments you currently take, as well as over-the-counter pain relievers
  • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • First-aid kit
  • Extra blankets or sweaters, in case the power goes when it’s cold out
  • Copies of all your important documents—family records, wills, power of attorney documents, deeds, social security numbers, credit card and bank information, and tax records. Keep these documents in a waterproof case, along with the names and numbers of your loved ones and doctors.
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, if necessary
  • Enough colostomy bags, incontinence supplies, hearing aid batteries, etc. to last a week
  • Moist towelettes and garbage bags for sanitation
  • Pet supplies, if applicable

Make a Plan

Your emergency plan will depend on your circumstances, the amount of family you have in the area, and how mobile you are. In some cases, you may decide to ride out the storm at a relative’s house or other place where you can get help.

If you receive regular household help, or you travel to a hospital or clinic for regular treatment such as dialysis, speak with your care providers about how you can continue to receive the care you need should the roads be impassable.

For families who are worried about how their elderly loved ones would manage in a weather-related crisis, it may be time to consider moving them to a long-term care home. At long-term care facilities like Regency Nursing, we have detailed emergency plans in place for all scenarios.

Whether its hurricanes or winter storms, we make sure our residents and staff stay safe and sound throughout the incident.

September: National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month

Posted on by Judah

America observes AFib Awareness Month in September. Many people are not aware of this relatively common condition that makes strokes five times more likely.

Today we’ll talk about Atrial fibrillation, its symptoms, and how to catch it early.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is often referred to as AF or AFib. It’s an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, that can cause your heart to beat as high as 175 times every minute. By contrast, a healthy adult’s heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

A sobering statistic from the American Heart Association says untreated atrial fibrillation could double your risk of heart-related deaths. Shockingly, less than half of all people with  AFib believe they are at increased risk.

Sustained AFib can cause strokes, heart failure, and other complications, so it’s important to take it seriously and treat it right away.

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

Many people actually feel their elevated heart beat on their own. According to the Heart Rhythm Society, you may have one of the following feelings in your chest:

  • Pounding drums
  • Rumbling thunder
  • Flopping fish

Besides for the quivering, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat, there are other symptoms common to AFib, including:

  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Exhaustion
  • Faintness
  • Shortness of breath

If you have any of these symptoms, especially if your heartbeat feels strange, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Not every case of AFib needs immediate treatment, and treatment will depend on many factors. The main goals in treating AFib are to lower the risk of stroke by preventing blood clots, and to treat any  underlying conditions that have caused the AFib.

If the arrhythmia is severe and/or affecting your quality of life, you will also need to control your heart rate via medication.

To learn more about Atrial Fibrillation, visit www.alittlefib.org for information and resources.

Adults and Seniors: Are You Up To Date With This Booster?

Posted on by Judah

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a project of the CDC and National Public Health Information Coalition.

Immunizations are a public health concern because un-immunized people can spread diseases to their loved ones, neighbors, and co-workers. Vaccines are especially important for seniors, because their bodies are often frailer and more susceptible to complications of various diseases.

Here at Regency Nursing, we take vaccines very seriously for our residents and staff. If you visit loved ones at a Regency facility often, we request you stay up to date on your vaccines. The last thing you want to do is infect your elderly loved one or her roommate.

In honor of National Immunization Awareness Month, today we’re going to talk about a booster shot every single adult should get every 10 years.

national immunization awareness month logo

The Tdap Vaccine and Td Booster

The Tdap vaccine immunizes you against three diseases; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

  • Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is an infection that causes severe muscle spasms. Symptoms usually start in the jaw and spread to the rest of the body. The illness can last a month, and it can take many more months to fully recover. The disease is fatal in about 10 percent of cases.

    The bacteria that cause tetanus are commonly found in soil, saliva, dust, and manure. People can contract tetanus through a cut or puncture wound by a contaminated object. After getting any kind of puncture wound, you should immediately get a tetanus shot if you are not up-to-date. Being immunized is the best way to prevent tetanus.

  • Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection of the mucus membranes in the throat and nose. Untreated diphtheria can cause severe damage to the kidneys, nervous system, and heart.

    Diphtheria is common in undeveloped countries, and rare in the United States. However, anyone who isn’t up to date on immunization is at risk of contracting the disease from someone else.

  • Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It’s a respiratory disease that can cause serious illness in people of all ages, although it is most fatal for babies. Seniors are also at higher risk of complications from pertussis.

The Tdap vaccine is usually given to children. The CDC recommends that if you did not receive the immunization as a child, you should get the Tdap as early as possible.

In addition, all adults should get a Td booster—a formula that boosts your immunity to tetanus and diphtheria—every 10 years.

If you have not gotten the booster in the last 10 years, speak with your doctor about getting it today.

 

All About the Shingles Vaccine

Posted on by Judah

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a project of the CDC and National Public Health Information Coalition.

Immunizations are a public health concern because un-immunized people can spread diseases to their loved ones, neighbors, and co-workers. Vaccines are especially important for seniors, because their bodies are often frailer and more susceptible to complications of various diseases.

Here at Regency Nursing, we take vaccines very seriously for our residents and staff. If you visit loved ones at a Regency facility often, we request you stay up-to-date on your vaccines. The last thing you want to do is infect your elderly loved one or her roommate.

In honor of National Immunization Awareness Month, we’ll highlight a different vaccine every week on our blog. There are specific vaccines that are recommended specifically for seniors, so today we’ll talk about a vaccine you should take if you’re over 50.

national immunization awareness month logo

Shingles

Shingles is acute, painful nerve inflammation. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus as chickenpox. If you have ever had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains, dormant, in your body. It can reappear at any time in the form of shingles.

Debilitating pain is the main symptom of shingles. A blistering rash usually begins 1–5 days after the pain begins, often on one band of skin. The outbreak can last between 2 and 4 weeks, and can completely devastate daily function, especially in the elderly.

Other symptoms include:

  • fever
  • headache
  • malaise
  • nausea
  • muscle pain and weakness
  • chills
  • upset stomach
  • difficulties with urination
  • fatigue
  • joint pain
  • swollen glands

Shingles can cause complications such as skin infection, inflammation of the brain, eye problems, nerve damage, and weakness.

Your risk of a shingles outbreak goes up exponentially after 50. Therefore, the CDC recommends all individuals age 50 and up receive the singles vaccine.

Shingles Vaccine

A new vaccine called Shingrix received FDA approval last October. It involves two doses, given 2–6 months apart. The vaccine is 90 percent effective against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia—a painful nerve condition that is a known complication of shingles.

The previous shingles vaccine, Zostavax, only reduced your risk of shingles by 51 percent, so this is clearly the better option. The CDC says you should take Shingrix even if you’ve already gotten Zostavax. You should also take the vaccine if you don’t remember having had chickenpox, as you may have had it as a very young child.

Side effects of Shingrix include mild soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Some people also reported headaches or feeling tired and achy after receiving the shot.

The worst side effects lasted 2 or 3 days, and the CDC says that even if you experience those side effects, it’s still better than suffering through weeks of shingles and possible complications.

All About Dysphagia

Posted on by Judah

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing food, is a common condition among seniors. The culprits are usually either nerve or muscle problems that make it hard to get the food down to the stomach.

How Swallowing Works

You probably don’t give swallowing a second thought; it’s a natural process that just happens on its own. But it’s actually a pretty complex process. Around 50 pairs of muscles and many more nerves work together to chew your food and move it to from your moth to your stomach. It happens in three stages:

  • In the oral phase, the tongue and jaw move the food around your mouth. This stage includes chewing to break down the food into the right size and mix it with saliva for the right texture.
  • The pharyngeal phase begins when your tongue pushes the food to the back of your mouth. When the food reaches a certain point, it triggers the swallowing reflex that closes the voice box and airways.
  • The esophageal phase is about three seconds long, and involves the food’s passage through your esophagus—the tube that carries food and liquid to the stomach.

When Dysphagia Occurs

If any of the many muscles or nerves involved in this team effort are weakened or otherwise impaired, one or more of the above phases can be disrupted.

Dysphagia is usually a symptom of another condition; it rarely occurs on its own. For example, Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological condition, can cause swallowing difficulties. In another example, stroke or head injury can weaken the oral muscles or affect their coordination.

Difficulty swallowing can cause a range of problems. These can be serious, and even life-threatening. Some of the effects of dysphagia include:

  • Weight loss—if you can’t swallow your food, you can’t maintain a healthy weight.
  • Choking—if chewing is affected, your food might go down in large pieces and get caught in the airway.
  • Aspiration pneumonia—this happens when food gets into the airway in small amounts, stays there, and becomes infected.
  • Esophageal weakness—this can cause a pocket to develop outside the esophagus, and trap food there. The food could then become dislodged during sleep, and cause choking or aspiration.

How to Treat Dysphagia

There are different ways to treat dysphagia, depending on the specific cause and kind of swallowing disorder.

If possible, a non-invasive way to treat dysphagia would be to alter the way you consume your food. You may need to change the food texture, temperature, size, or even your posture. Speech therapists who specialize in dysphagia can teach you specific maneuvers designed to keep food away from the airway when swallowing.

In same cases, muscle exercises can strengthen weak facial muscles or improve chewing coordination.

Many times, especially in progressive conditions, surgical insertion of a feeding tube will become necessary. The tube bypasses the weakened part of the tract and delivers nutrients directly to the stomach.

At Regency Nursing, our nurses our experts in care for patients with dysphagia and feeding tubes. Contact us to find out more.

How Palliative Care Can Smooth Your Cancer Journey

Posted on by Judah

We’ve written a lot about palliative care in the past here on the Regency Blog. As an example, here is a detailed post about the difference between palliative care and hospice care.

As a quick recap, palliative care is an area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. This is care given in conjunction with curative medical care, most commonly for cancer. The patient will see an oncologist or other doctor to treat and hopefully cure his cancer, and will also see a palliative care specialist to help manage pain and other unpleasant side effects from the disease and its treatment.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is a philosophy of care that focuses on relieving a terminally ill patient’s symptoms. On hospice care, the patient typically discontinues all curative care, and focuses on physical, emotional, and spiritual support during the last months and weeks of their life.

In short: Palliative care is an important part of the hospice program, but it is also a level of care on its own. Anybody suffering from any uncomfortable disease can benefit from palliative care.

How Does Palliative Care Help With Cancer?

A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming and frightening. Most of the time you need to act quickly against the cancer, and you’re plunged into a world of treatments, pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Palliative care can help maximize your quality of life and peace of mind during the turbulent ride of cancer treatment. Your expert palliative care providers can offer effective pain relief, symptom management, improved communication, and emotional support while you navigate your cancer. The team also extends support to the patient’s loved ones who are also hurting.

The care team usually consists of a doctor or nurse practitioner, a social worker, and a spiritual care provider such as clergy.

Says Dr. Rebecca Burke, palliative care specialist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, “Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a cancer diagnosis and can be provided along with curative treatment. The oncology team may refer patients to meet with the palliative care team due to worsening pain, uncontrolled symptoms, or for extra support when facing serious illness.”

Dr. Burke provides palliative care to outpatients at Rutgers Cancer Institute, as well as at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Her team helps cancer patients manage pain, control nausea, deal with anxiety, and many other issues.

“A growing body of research shows that early consultation with the palliative care team leads to improved pain and symptom management,” Dr. Burke says. “Some studies have even shown improved survival when palliative care is provided early in the course of cancer care.”

Losing Weight the Healthy Way When You Are A Senior

Posted on by Judah

Good evening to all of you, my beloved Regency family!

Our good friend of Regency, Hazel Bridges of www.agingwellness.org, wrote this exclusive healthcare article, just for all of you!

Diet and exercise, the two pillars of weight loss, tend to change as you grow older. However, they do so in different ways. Your diet may need more of certain nutrients or vitamins, but the tenets of a healthy weight-loss diet remain the same for everyone: a balance of lean protein, fiber and healthy fats, eaten in reasonable portions.

Exercise, on the other hand, tends to become more complicated with age. Your muscles and bones deteriorate and make it harder for you to move, let alone do an intense workout. However, a healthy exercise plan is crucial to weight loss, so it is important to learn to tailor your workouts to your needs if you are looking to shed some pounds.

 Healthy and Unhealthy Weight Loss

 Being older doesn’t significantly affect the rules of weight loss. You need to exercise more, eat less, and make nutritious choices. As an older adult, your main consideration will be mobility and maintain an active lifestyle despite your body having a harder time getting around.

Many seniors start experiencing unintentional weight loss when they get older. If this happens to you, even if you were overweight before, do not let it go unchecked. Unintentional weight loss can be a sign of illness, both physical and mental, and is not something to be ignored. If this happens to you, consult your doctor about it. They will be able to work with you toward a treatment that allows you to control your weight loss while keeping yourself healthy.

Building Muscle

 Perhaps the best exercise regimen to lose weight in a healthy way as a senior is weight training. This allows you to lose weight while preserving and building muscle mass. This is important, as the loss of muscle mass in old age, known as sarcopenia, is linked with increased frailty and an overall loss of mobility and independence.

According to Harvard Health, the key when doing weight training is to focus on power, not just strength. Unlike strength, which simply increases the weight you can lift, power defines how easily or effectively you are able to move. The best way to improve power is to focus on the areas that are most crucial to mobility, like the legs.

Traditional weight rooms can be expensive, not to mention intimidating for older people. You can reap the benefits of weight training at home by investing in a small home gym. A few dumbbells or kettlebells, a set of resistance bands, and an exercise ball can get you quite far, covering a variety of upper body, leg, and core strengthening workouts.

 If you choose to do this, make sure you are being safe at all times. Learn the correct form of the movement you are doing, keep your back and neck straight and do not lift more than feels comfortable. Stretch before and cool down after every workout and keep hydrated throughout.

 Cardio

Most effective fitness plans are a combination of cardio and muscle exercises. While building muscle will do wonders for your strength and mobility, cardio is what will make most of the difference when it comes to weight loss.

According to Livestrong, people over 65 should be doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio, 75 minutes of vigorous intensity cardio, or a combination of both every week. You can spread this out, for example going for a 30-minute brisk walk (moderate intensity) every weekday.

If you have problems with your joints, look for something low-impact like swimming, cycling, or yoga. Most exercises can be done at various levels of intensity, so it’s up to you to pick the pace that works best for you.

Weight loss during old age can seem particularly challenging, especially as your body starts feeling less capable of intense exercise. However, it is possible to develop and stick to a healthy exercise regime when you are over 65. The key is to know your limits and commit to working slowly towards improvement. Ultimately, you will not only lose weight, but you will also improve your long-term mobility, independence, and quality of life.

Tracheostomy Care Information

Posted on by Judah

When someone can’t breathe on their own, due to illness or injury, many times doctors will perform a tracheotomy. This is a medical procedure that temporarily or permanently opens a hole in the neck for a tube to pass through to the patient’s trachea, or windpipe.

The hole, called a tracheostomy or stoma, is located below the vocal cords. When the tube is inserted, air can enter the lungs and bypass the mouth, nose and throat.

Here’s what you need to know about the procedure:

When does a patient require a tracheostomy?

Doctors will create a stoma in any situation where breathing is impossible. This can be for patients after surgery or in intensive care, patients with chronic lung diseases or cancers, patients in a coma, or in other situations. People who need long-term respirator or ventilator support will also require a stoma.

Many times, the tracheostomy is temporary, and it will be repaired after you recover. Normally, all that’s left after recovery is a small scar where the stoma once was.

For long-term or permanent stomas, your loved one may need to learn how to speak around the tubing, and will need ongoing care. At Regency Nursing, we provide outstanding tracheostomy care to keep the incidence of complication low.

What are the risks of a tracheotomy?

Every medical procedure carries some risk. When the procedure involves breaking the skin, we have the twin risks of infection and hemorrhaging.

Tracheotomies also carry specific risks, including:

  • damage to the glands in the neck, particularly the thyroid.
  • lung puncture or collapse.
  • scar tissue in the windpipe.
  • erosion of the trachea is also a serious risk, but it’s extremely rare.

What does tracheostomy care entail?

The procedure to create the stoma shouldn’t take longer than 45 minutes. Your loved one may then stay in the hospital until they recover from the surgery. During this time, they won’t be able to eat normally, and may require a feeding tube. They may also need speech therapy to help learn how to talk around the tube.

If your loved one is going home after a tracheotomy, you will receive clear instructions on how to care for the stoma and tubing. You will need to suction the tube every day, clean the inner cannula if there is one, and change the dressing at the opening.

You will also need to check the surgical site daily for signs of infection or other complications.

If your loved one is at a skilled nursing facility, the nursing staff will take care of the stoma. At Regency Nursing in particular, your loved one will be in good hands. Our nurses are specially trained in tracheostomy care, and we go above and beyond in keeping your loved one’s stoma squeaky clean and clear.

To learn more, contact us at Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation.