INDEED Project

Innovative tools for Diets oriented to Education and Health improvement in Dysphagia condition

What is Indeed?

INDEED – “INnovative tools for Diets oriented to Education and hEalth improvement in Dysphagia condition”

The main aim of the INDEED project is to upgrade the education on dietetic approaches of the oropharyngeal dysphagia management by offering innovative learning methods and tools. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a condition involving perceived or real difficulty in forming or moving a bolus safely from the oral cavity to the esophagus.

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Presentation of Dysphagia

The prevalence of dysphagia is about 8 % among the world adult population. This prevalence is even higher in certain cases; 20-60% in people over the age of 55 and between 35-84% in neurological disease (CP, Alzheimer, ELA …) and other medical situations (impact, surgery or cancer).

Dysphagia can lead serious consequences of health: choke on, obstruction, aspiration, pneumonia or others respiratory infections, dehydration and malnutrition. Besides, the inability to eat and drink properly can also promote worsen psycho-emotional state, resulting into frustration, diminished self-esteem, and social isolation.

Dysphagia is a global problem which affects the life quality of people with this disorder as well as their families and caregivers. Providing a texture modified diet for each patient, as well as secure, nutritious and tasty as possible is mandatory. When the texture of food and the viscosity of beverages are adapted to each condition, individuals with swallowing difficulties recover nutrition status and confidence.

In conclusion, education and training of caregivers (both in home environment and in institutions) should be mandatory for those in charge of patients with dysphagia.

INDEED project has the mission to Investigate the overall situation about dysphagia management in partner countries; increasing the public awareness on dysphagia condition and bringing it up in the agenda of national policy makers; creating innovative and user-friendly tools both for caregivers and for adults in charge of dysphagia patients; and creating an innovative, international and multidisciplinary network that engages professionals from different areas. All the objectives have been designed to facilitate effective tools that improve eating inclusion of dysphagia patients.

The objectives and the target groups within the INDEED project have been defined in order to achieve a significant improvement of the quality of life and health status of the people suffering from dysphagia and their families.

INDEED objectives

 The specific objectives of this INDEED project are the following:

1. Defining the overall situation about dysphagia management in partner countries (because of the lack of adequate data relevant).

2. Defining the overall situation about dysphagia management in partner countries (because of the lack of adequate data relevant).

3. Creating innovative and user-friendly tools for the caregivers who are dealing with people with dysphagia.

4. Creating an innovative, international and multidisciplinary network that engages professionals from different areas to provide families and caregivers with effective tools for achieving eating inclusion of dysphagia patients. The adult learning approach included in this proposal involves the acquisition and development of specific skills in caregivers from institutions and from the family environment.

The Impact Areas

Improving nutrition on dysphagia trough innovation.

Boosting knowledge on dysphagia management

Developing dietetic management skills

Promoting social integration of people with dysphagia and their families

Enhancing the access for adult education

The INDEED project will promote the European inclusion of dysphagia patients, it will constitute a fluent communication channel about food texture modifications, and could even contribute to harmonize European criteria for the management of dysphagia diets.

Target groups

INDEED target groups are mainly categorised under two clusters:

  1. People who are suffering from dysphagia, as well as their families and caregivers
  2. Adult educators who support families, caregivers and people with dysphagia from a multidisciplinary point of view

More specifically the INDEED target groups are:

  • People living with dysphagia disorder
  • Caregivers and families of dysphagia patients at household environment
  • Professionals working with dysphagia patients in institutions
  • VET and university students in the sector as future professionals
  • Policy makers
  • General Public