The Disabled & 'aspirational pneumonia'

@jacko It sounds like you’ve taken good care of your brother over many years! You must love him a lot. Has the group home mentioned getting a swallow evaluation for your brother? It’s an x-ray that shows how all the muscles in the throat are working during swallowing. Doesn’t hurt or anything. Also, is he using thickened liquids? Sometimes, beverages with the consistency of water are much harder to swallow and you can choke. There are products that can be added to liquids to thicken them up. I went thru all of this when I first got sick—I had to learn how to swallow and drink thickened liquids. Worth a try! I sure hope everything works out for you and your brother.

Yes ~ Thank you, Buddy for your qualifying comments ... just trying to follow the medical protocol - and other possible suggestions - hope you are doing great!

Hello! My brother had a simple tonsillectomy many years ago and became a mute and disabled intellectually - a very smart little boy. He was relegated to a state institution until the DE-institutionalization Movement in the 1980's. He has been a resident t a rather comfortable Group Home, but since beginning his 70's, he's development 'aspirational pneumonia' - we want to keep him alive and reasonably healthy - palliative care has been employed? Thank You!

Hi @jacko you may have noticed I moved your post to your earlier discussion on this. I also added it to the Lung Health group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-conditions/ so that you would be able to discuss this topic with both groups.

I wanted to introduce you to fellow members @steve1948 and @kristiemlove have both had a type of pneumonia and may be able to offer you support.

I also wanted to share a link to the Caregivers group so that you can connect with others who are taking care of loved ones. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/

Back to your brother and @becsbuddy comments, what were the results of the swallow evaluation?

They had a Barium Swallow ... before and then watching him in the hospital .. he had some choking in his room with Speech Therapists, however went to Group Home and with small, slow spoonfuls, did better ....

He had a LOW Blood Oxygen Count so they want to have him use some oxygen to bring into normal range ....