March 19, 2024

Dysphagia in Patients With Dementia

56 minutes

In this episode, we discuss diagnosing and managing dysphagia in patients with dementia. Dr. Jeannette Benigas and Rinki Varindani Desai integrate various sources with their own professional experience to help better equip SLPs to partner with our patients.

Episode Resources:
Free webinar of NFOSD: https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/webinar-recording-dysphagia-dementia/

NFOSD blog post for caregivers: https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/caregivers-guide-dysphagia-dementia/

ECAT
https://www.healthpropress.com/product/environment-communication-assessment-toolkit-ecat-for-dementia-care-with-meters

Medbridge Link for the following courses: https://www.medbridgeeducation.com/benigas
code to save: BENIGAS

Biography
Dr. Jeanette E. Benigas, PhD owns Safe Swallowing Diagnostics, a mobile FEES company serving Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Her extensive clinical experience has included work with adults in the acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, post-acute rehabilitation, long-term care, home health, and outpatient settings. Dr. Benigas's research interests include improving the quality of life for people with dementia, specifically those who have difficulties eating and swallowing. Her research has incorporated the use of spaced retrieval to teach swallowing strategies so individuals with dementia can avoid unwanted dietary modifications. She has traveled nationally to consult and speak with other professionals in the medical field who work with people with memory loss or dysphagia. Dr. Benigas received a master's degree in speech-language pathology from Eastern Michigan University and a Ph.D. in speech and hearing science with an interdisciplinary specialization in aging from The Ohio State University. She has taught at several universities across Ohio, Indiana, and New York. She co-authored Spaced Retrieval Step by Step: An Evidence-Based Memory Intervention and is the co-host of the podcasts Fix SLP and Other SLPs' Pockets. Dr. Benigas can be found on social media on Instagram (@Fix.SLP or @MedSLPadvocate) or Facebook (@FixSLP and @MedSLPadvocate).

Rinki Varindani Desai, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S is a medical speech-language pathologist and board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders. She is the founder of the Medical SLP Forum community, co-creator of the Dysphagia Therapy mobile app, and co-founder of the Swallowing Training and Education Portal online learning platform. Rinki currently serves as a member of ASHA's Scientific and Professional Education Board. She has earned multiple awards for excellence in clinical practice, leadership, advocacy, and clinical education. She has practiced in medical settings across the US for over a decade. In addition to teaching and mentoring graduate students, she has presented nationally and internationally and published several articles on topics related to adult dysphagia. In her downtime, she enjoys reading, writing, cooking, volunteering, and doing what she can to help advance the profession by paying it forward.