DEAR DR. GOTT: My mother is 87 years old and has great difficulty swallowing pills. They get stuck in her throat, and she is so afraid of choking she would prefer not to take them at all, which is not an option because of her many medical conditions. Can you offer any guidance? Her entire family is terribly concerned.
DEAR READER: I do have a few recommendations that might get her back on track. Your mother should take her pills at a time when she doesn’t feel she is under stress. She should be relaxed and assisted by a single family member or appropriate person with whom she feels comfortable. Don’t perform the task if everyone is gathered around, coaxing her on. [Read more…]