Depending on the country you live in your doctor may be able to refer you to
any of the following specialists to give advice on diet or eating problems you
may experience.
A dietician can provide advice on
all aspects of nutrition and diet. They will advise on maintaining a
healthy diet and adjusting it to suit your needs and symptoms, bearing in mind
your specific needs in relation to your medications.
A speech and language therapist
will be able to help you with problems in swallowing and ways to overcome such
difficulties, as well as speech difficulties. They can also help
eliminate any other possible causes of swallowing problems before any dietary
changes are made.
An occupational therapist will be
able to look at ways to make food preparation easier, possibly by altering the
set up in your kitchen or home. Simple changes to your kitchen and dining
area can make all the difference, for example:
- adding grab rails to help
you move around safely
- moving the position of
equipment needed to prepare meals so that things are grouped in one part
of the kitchen, so reducing the amount you need to move around
- buying a blender, microwave
or small chopper for example can ease preparation and reduce the amount of
time spent manually preparing food.
An occupational
therapist will also be able to advice on special equipment available to
make food preparation and mealtimes easier and more comfortable (See also: How can I help myself?).
