Diet to Avoid Aspiration Pneumonia

Pneumonia is tough to deal with for anybody therefore pneumonia in the elderly can be extremely difficult. The good thing is that proper diets can help seniors avoid infections like pneumonia.

Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that is typically caused by bacteria. One way that this infection can develop is when food, drink, or even saliva are breathed into the lungs instead of swallowed into the stomach. These substances can get stuck in the lungs along with any bacteria they carry, turning into aspiration.

Food to Eat

Generally, tender foods are easier to chew and swallow, helping reduce the chance that they get swallowed down the wrong pipe.

Tender Foods

Bananas
Rice
Ground beef or turkey
Peeled fruit
Potatoes
Fish
French toast

TIP: You can also cut other foods into small bites to change their consistency and make them easier to swallow. Smaller bites of food can help further reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.

Some seniors may be able to swallow pureed foods or thickened liquids more easily than tender foods. These foods should be smooth and not have any lumps.

Pureed Foods

Smoothie
Soup
Pudding
Yogurt
Rice cereal
Pureed fruits or vegetables
Cottage cheese

TIP: You can puree many foods, including what you prepare for the whole family to eat. Just put a portion of the food in a blender and mix until smooth. You may need to add liquid (water, stock, gravy, sauce, etc.) to get the right consistency.

Food to Avoid

To help prevent aspiration pneumonia, you should avoid foods that can be difficult to chew and swallow.

Whole fruit
Seeds and nuts
Pasta
Raw vegetables
Celery
Scrambled, fried, or hard-boiled eggs
Corn
Multi-grain bread
Beans and peas
Crackers

Eating Techniques

What a senior eats is as important as how senior eats. Maintaining proper eating techniques during each meal can help reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.