HLTAHA013
Provide Support in Dysphagia Management
Approach considerations to maintain adequate nutritional intake and maximise airway protection
Overview
Dysphagia refers to difficulties with swallowing. This course provides training on how to care for individuals with dysphagia, which is common in the elderly population.
The course teaches strategies for managing dysphagia, such as:
- Modifying food and liquid textures per IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) guidelines
- Encouraging smaller bites and eating slowly
- Potentially using feeding tubes for severe cases
- Working with speech pathologists for swallowing assessments and diet modifications
Providing appropriate care for dysphagia is crucial for maintaining quality of life, adequate nutrition, and safety for elderly individuals or residents of aged care facilities.
The overall goal is to ensure individuals with swallowing difficulties receive proper evaluation, diet modifications, and monitoring to avoid life-threatening situations and promote overall well-being.
The Dysphagia Management course is run monthly or more often as required.
The course is run from 9.00am to 4.00pm and includes both theory and practical assessment.
This can be completed as a full unit of competency (HLTAHA013) or as a one day pathway course. It is aimed at Care Workers and is strongly recommended for all staff providing personal care. The dysphagia workshop includes:
- What is dysphagia?
- The anatomy and physiology of swallowing
- Signs, symptoms, causes and related conditions
- Care, feeding and treatment options
- Possible complications and what to observe as a Care Worker
The full unit of competency consists of
- A full day course consisting of theory and practical skills
- A practical workplace assessment
On completion of the full unit of competency, a Statement of Attainment is issued.
There are no prerequisites for this unit.
Contact us or call 9439 1673 to book a class or request one of our trainers to provide training at your workplace.
Fees are payable on booking your attendance.