Healthcare sector supported in preparing food for dysphagia diets with IDDSI-compliant workshops

Date published: 12 December 2023

Care homes and NHS workers were recently invited to a series of workshops by the Elaine Bain Family Trust and Albany Products in Castleton, specialising in preparing food for people with dysphagia.

One treatment advised for people who have dysphagia – experiencing discomfort or struggling swallowing – includes changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.

The event, aimed at chefs, nurses and dieticians from care homes, hospitals and hospices, saw participants from the Midlands, Liverpool and even Ireland attend to gain a better understanding of IDDSI food preparation, removing risk and reducing food waste.

Locally, staff from Springhill Hospice and Rochdale Infirmary were invited to the sessions along with Councillor Billy Sheerin, Assistant Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Wellbeing at Rochdale Borough Council.

The sessions were led by Irish chef Niamh Condon, of Dining with Dignity, who specialises in modified texture food preparation to International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) standards.

The end results included a full Christmas dinner to IDDSI level 4 recommendations, including ham or turkey (with stuffing), sprouts, carrots, red cabbage, mashed potato and gravy.

Attendees also had a chance to see and try Flavour Creations products including pre-thickened drinks, snacks and supplements, and no melt ice-cream.

Niamh, who has developed recipes and methods to suit dysphagia diets, set up Dining with Dignity in 2019 to provide catering and consultancy training in the healthcare sector.

She said: “Everyone’s desire to produce food that does not compromise on flavour, presentation or nutrition for those that need it most is clear. We were able to show that this is possible and at the same time reduce waste and ultimately costs across the board in their organisations.”

Councillor Sheerin said: “It was a revelation for me to taste a full Christmas dinner that was full of flavour and traditional tastes that could be safely served up to anyone suffering from dysphagia, the inability to, or have difficulty with, swallowing solid foods.

“Lots of our senior citizens and many in care homes have to have their food mushed up in a food blender due to having this condition. What master chef Niamh Condon cooked up was rather special. It looked appetising and it certainly was enjoyable to eat and I would give it five stars on Trip Advisor if it was served up in a restaurant.”

Albany Products supplies branded and private label packaged foods and household items to retail and wholesale organisations across the UK, including the Flavour Creations range of food products which have had their texture modified to be suitable for those with dysphagia.

It also supplies accessories to aid ease symptoms of dysphagia, such as food moulds and a specially designed cup.

Albany Products will be running more sessions in the New Year.