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Dysphagia in the Elderly and in Dementia: Helping the Helper

William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, and University of Wisconsin Department of Communicative Disorders
Madison, WI

In order to explore the literature on the role of family in dysphagia intervention, key search terms were identified and literature was reviewed from Pub Med since 1999. Much of the literature dealing with dysphagia in the elderly, and in persons with dementia, focuses primarily on the patients. Limited attention is often focused on the needs of family. Families should be a focus during planning, as well as during treatment of dysphagia, in order to optimize outcomes. This article addresses the role of the family in this process, strategies for improving the involvement of family in decision-making, and also discusses issues related to caregiver burden and burnout.