Dysphagia Awareness
The Dysphagia Awareness course explores the causes and symptoms of dysphagia, how the swallowing process works, and when to escalate concerns to speech and language therapists or other specialists. Learners will also develop practical knowledge of safe feeding techniques, risk reduction, and the appropriate use of thickening agents (available in face-to-face delivery).
Dysphagia can lead to serious health complications, including choking, aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition. It can also affect a person’s comfort, dignity and quality of life. This Dysphagia Awareness course is designed to help care staff and support workers recognise the signs of dysphagia, respond appropriately, and provide safe, compassionate care.
Whether you work in residential care, home care or healthcare, this course will equip you with the skills and awareness to support individuals with dysphagia in a respectful, person-centred way.
What You Will Learn
- What dysphagia is and why it occurs
- The anatomy and physiology of swallowing
- Common swallowing difficulties and their causes
- How to recognise early signs of dysphagia in different individuals
- How to reduce the risk of choking and aspiration
- Understanding the link between dysphagia and malnutrition or dehydration
- The importance of maintaining dignity, privacy and respect during mealtimes
- Alternatives to oral feeding, such as PEG tubes or specialist interventions
- When and how to escalate concerns to a healthcare professional or speech and language therapist
- The role of texture-modified diets and IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) guidelines
- Practical use of food and fluid thickening agents (optional, for in-person sessions)
- How to record and communicate concerns effectively
Certification
All participants will receive a certificate of achievement upon successful completion of the course.
Related Courses
If you’re looking to expand your knowledge further, you might also be interested in our PEG (Enteral Feeding) courses.
Course Location & Service Areas
We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue, tailored to your needs and schedule. This flexible approach removes the need to send staff off-site for essential learning.
Our experienced trainers deliver courses across Manchester and Greater Manchester, supporting organisations throughout the North West.
We also provide on-site training throughout England, covering major cities, towns, and regions nationwide, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.
For added flexibility, this course is also available remotely via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, making it ideal for teams based in multiple locations or working remotely.
Wherever and however the training is delivered, all sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors and meet the same high standards.
