Teeth clenching again

[bryval]

Still having trouble with Valerie clenching her teeth. We moved from normal cutlery to plastic after she broke two teeth but she still hangs on to it. I thought it was part of the psp but why doesn't she do it when I'm giving her cheesecake and cream ???

I'm sure she would be happy with a cream based diet but I feel she needs normal dinners as well !

Any thoughts ?

Bryan

[Katiebow]

Ben often bites hard down on his spoon and so I now use plastic spoons, he also has a habit of biting just inside his lower lip and constantly has very sore mouth, don't know what to do about that.

Love Kate xxx

[Kevin_1]

Hi Bryan

Telling you what you already know... food and favorite foods are really important. Food is is comforting and if familiar it gives so much pleasure in a diminishing world.

Have you got carers coming in? Thy are incredibly expert at giving food without needing to put the spoon in the mouth... Well some are. Or get an OT in to show you how.

I am really bad at this... Its quite a skill.

hope this helps

Best

Kevin

[bryval in reply to Kevin_1]

Thanks Kevin. If you are going on the 6th I'll bring a spoon and you can show me !!!

Bryan

[Kevin_1 in reply to bryval]

Chuckles

I am going but I was rubbish at it.

The food is presented and the stop lip use to 'scrape' the food into the mouth by an upward movement of the spoon.

Another carer had another method which I never really got sussed.

Bet to you Brian

Kevin

[bryval in reply to Kevin_1]

See you on 6th.

When Valerie was in the hospice for respite last month they asked if we wanted to be referred for CHC funding. As she only has her state pension and no savings in her name all her care needs are funded by Swindon B C at present. Should we bother with CHC ? Seems an awful lot of hassle.

Bryan

[Kevin_1 in reply to bryval]

Hi Bryan

I think you are probably correct.

The only thing I would watch out for is if the BC start putting ceilings on what resources they will fund.

For example they may turn round and say they won't fund a Nursing Home (as oppose to a Care Home). I would also check whether they might catch her on the means testing if she owns her own home and was to go into care.

Cheers

Kevin

[Kevin_1 in reply to bryval]

Ah, my brain has just kicked in!

The other method is to hold a load spoon near the mouth and push the food into the mouth bulldozer fashion.

[AnaBri]

My mom does the same thing but not all the time, there are days she will bite down hard and not let go or any kind of spoon, metal or plastic. I bought baby Silicone spoons and a very round coffee spoon that she can bite but won't hurt that much. I basically talk her into letting go everytime she does this. Never try to pull the spoon out of her mouth. When and if she does soft food as puree you can try using a zip lock bag. Fill it and cut one corner, put her in her mouth and let her suck slowly. That way there is nothing to actually bite and hurt her teeth. Good luck!

[AliBee1]

Dear Bryan

Is it just sweet things that Valerie eats without clenching her teeth? Does she have any savoury things that she likes which could be given as finger foods? Only an idea but I know that it helped with a friend of ours who did not have PSP but had the same problem with eating which had become a battle ground until the finger food thing worked and food times became enjoyable again.

Love Ali B

[bryval in reply to AliBee1]

Hi Ali. Valerie also likes fishy things - salmon mousse is good and often goes down without clenching. Problem is she can't chew now so finger foods are out - everything needs to be very soft or pureed.

From all the replies I've had it seems this a common problem so it's not Valerie being difficult - I have apologised !!!

Bryan