Problems with swallowing, or dysphagia, affects a surprising number of people. It is a frequent consequence of stroke, dementia, brain injury and neurological conditions such as MS, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease.

Some 50 pairs of muscles, and many nerves, are involved in the complicated business of swallowing: little wonder that we can develop problems with this essential daily activity.

Our resident nutrition expert, Mary Farmer, a retired NHS dietitian, looks at dysphagia, and what practical steps can be taken to help ease the problems of eating, drinking and managing pills.

You can read her latest nutrition blog, Hard to Swallow, here

How much do you know about Advance Decisions, or Advance Statements? Do you know what the difference is?

Thinking about how we would want to be treated if we became too ill or disabled to communicate our wishes may not be comfortable, but a bit of planning in advance could make a crucial difference. If you don't specify what you do or don't want to happen, the decision will be made by healthcare professionals, not by your nearest and dearest, as most people imagine.

MyDecisions website is an online facility set up by the charity Compassion in Dying, where you can draft legally correct Advance Decisions or Advance Statements free of charge.

You can find more information here

As a nation, Britons don’t discuss matters lavatorial, but if you have any issue affecting your mobility, balance, manual dexterity or size, chances are that going to the toilet is a big issue. And when you realise that it’s something we all do, on average eight times a day, you appreciate how good toilet assistive technology can make a big difference to your daily life.

In fact, bathrooms – including the toilet – are now the most common form of home adaptation.

We have a very interesting article contributed by Clos-o-Mat, about toilet technology, and how to start thinking about what extra facilities you might need from your loo. You can read it here

This article is part of the IL product focus on bathrooms. If you would like to receive the free email round-up – we look at a different topic each month – you can find out more and sign up here

Last week was Hypermobility Week; perhaps a good cue to look at what the term means. Hypermobility affects between 20% and 30% of the population, and it means that your joints are looser, giving you a greater range of movement.

This may be a great bonus for dancers, musicians and gymnasts, but we often pay for the extra flexibility by pushing too far, causing damage and chronic pain.

If you suffer from joint or muscle pain, whether it's caused by hypermobility or something else, you may be interested in a new wireless tens machine for drug-free pain relief, from Win Health. More details here

And we have a musician's account of learning to live with hypermobility – and, crucially, still working as a musician – here

A very nicely designed range of crockery and cutlery has now found its way onto Independent Living, from German manufacturer Ornamin.

Nonslip plates and bowls with sloped interiors help you catch up with the food when eating one-handed, and if you take a long time to eat, the keep-warm crockery shown here means that you won't be left with a half-finished meal that is cold and unappetising. Mugs come with one or two handles that can be grasped with the whole hand, and a cone-shaped interior that means you can drink comfortably without having to tip your head back. There are lids with a spout to help those with a shaky hand avoid spillages.

Ornamin's cutlery is particularly eye-catching, as well. With a padded nonslip grip for the handles, and a design that enables them to be held in either hand and whichever way is most comfortable/effective, they provide a discreet support for anyone who struggles with normal knives, forks and spoons.

Ornamin's showcase page has more information

If you provide high quality products and services, and you would like to reach our site visitors and newsletter readers, please email derek@independentliving.co.uk

Solaticare is a clever solution to the problem faced by people who are continent but unable to leave their bed to go to the toilet. Much more dignified than the alternative of bedpans, it is available in a completely automatic hospital version, shown here, and a community unit which requires the help of a carer. You can see all the details on the updated showcase page

If you live in Sheffield and are part of a couple aged over 60, you might be able to help with an interesting psychology research project – details are here

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Until next time, all good wishes,

Frances