Affiliation:
1. West London NHS Trust, London, UK
Abstract
Dysphagia is common in older adults. Linda Nazarko gives an overview of how practice nurses can support individuals living with dysphagia The practice nurse may encounter people who present with a variety of medical problems that are ultimately caused by swallowing difficulties. These difficulties may be acute or longstanding, severe or mild. The number of adults living with swallowing difficulties is set to rise in line with population ageing and the increasing levels of frailty and comorbidities that occur in older adults. This article aims to provide a guide to why dysphagia develops, how dysphagia is diagnosed and how the practice nurse can support individuals who are living with dysphagia.