A Holiday Reminder: Keeping Loved Ones Safe During Festive Meals

About Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living offers multiple care levels for seniors in more than 600 communities nationwide. Brookdale helps you find the right care plan for yourself or your loved one. With amenities such as transportation services, salons and private dining rooms and activities such as gardening, fitness classes and trivia nights Brookdale caters to a wide range of interests and needs.

Written by Madison Sargent, RN, BSN, Brookdale’s Director of Clinical Operations

The holiday season is a wonderful time to come together, share meals and create cherished memories. But it’s important to be mindful of the unique dietary and safety needs of our senior loved ones, especially when it comes to helping reduce choking risks during festive meals.

Choking can be a concern for older adults due to changes in chewing and swallowing abilities. To help everyone enjoy the holiday feasts, here are a few tips:

Serve Appropriately Textured Foods

For individuals with chewing or swallowing difficulties, doctors may have ordered special diets to accommodate this. For example:

If a resident has a “texture-modified diet,” food should be served moist and soft-solid.
All meats and poultry should be ground.
Avoid raw vegetables, fruits that are tough, stringy or have hard seeds.
Breads with tough crusts and potatoes should be served tender, moist or with gravy.

Mind the Portions

Cut food into small, manageable pieces.
Halve round foods like cherry tomatoes and Brussels sprouts to reduce choking risk.
Encourage eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, and sipping liquids between bites.

Be Cautious with Holiday Favorites

Certain holiday treats can pose challenges for seniors:

Avoid nuts, hard candies, raisins, hard chocolate chips, sprinkles, coconut and sticky desserts.
Opt for easier-to-swallow alternatives like soft cakes, chewy brownies and ice cream.

Stay Attentive

Always supervise mealtimes, especially for those with known swallowing difficulties.
Watch for signs of choking, such as coughing, drooling, or difficulty breathing or talking.

If your loved one is a Brookdale resident, you can consult your community’s Dining Director or Health and Wellness Director for guidance on holiday meal preparations. We’re happy to assist you in planning meals that align with their needs, so everyone can enjoy the season.

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