Geriatric Cup Feeder and Method of Use

Abstract

The invention relates to a geriatric feeding cup for feeding liquid to an elderly person, including a cup adapted to receive the liquid, a lid and a spout made of a soft pliable material fitted to the cup. In use, the geriatric feeding cup enables the search reflex, the suck reflex and the swallow reflex to be stimulated in the elderly person so that they can be fed the liquid in a more effective and safe manner. The invention also relates to a method of use of the geriatric feeding cup whereby the search reflex, the suck reflex and the swallow reflex are stimulated to feed the person.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A geriatric feeding cup for feeding thickened liquid food to an elderly person, the geriatric feeding cup including:
 a substantially rigid cup including at least one wall, the cup being adapted to receive the thickened liquid food;   a lid for the cup to retain the thickened liquid food therein; and   a long wide spout, releasably attached to the at least one wall of the substantially rigid cup, wherein the long wide spout has a width of more than 12 millimetres and a length of more than 30 millimetres, and is made of a soft pliable material, the long wide spout extends perpendicular from the wall of the cup, wherein the long wide spout is adapted to dispense thickened liquid food of a suitable thickness to feed the person and to elicit the search, suck and swallow reflex to enable feeding, wherein, use of the geriatric feeding cup enables the search reflex, the suck reflex and the swallow reflex to be stimulated in the elderly person by touching the tip of the spout repeatedly on the corner of the mouth of the elderly person to stimulate the search reflex and once stimulated moving the tip of the spout backwards and forwards on the tongue to stimulate the suck reflex and depositing thickened liquid food on the posterior aspect of the tongue to stimulate the swallow reflex so that the elderly person can be fed the thickened liquid food in a more effective and safe manner.   
     
     
         2 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the person is any person who requires assistance feeding, where traditional methods are no longer suitable. 
     
     
         3 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the person is a person with a neurological disorder. 
     
     
         4 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the long wide spout avoids the need for additional testing of the consistency of the thickened liquid food before dispensing, as the liquid runs out of the spout on tipping if too thin, but if the liquid can be dispensed by “milking” the long wide spout, the consistency of the thickened liquid food is suitable to feed to the person. 
     
     
         5 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the carer can determine that the thickened liquid food is of a consistency to feed the person without specific additional testing, but through use of the cup. 
     
     
         6 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the thickened liquid food is made up from powder to a particular consistency. 
     
     
         7 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the soft pliable spout is at least 40 millimetres long. 
     
     
         8 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the spout includes a terminal opening of a size suitable to the thickness of the liquid to be dispensed. 
     
     
         9 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 4 , wherein the terminal opening is 1 millimetre, 3 millimetres or 5 millimetres wide. 
     
     
         10 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the spout is substantially 40 millimetres long, substantially 12 millimetres wide and has a terminal opening of 5 millimetres wide. 
     
     
         11 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the spout is disposable. 
     
     
         12 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein a range of different spouts of different lengths are available for use to suit mouths of different sizes. 
     
     
         13 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein a range of different spouts are included and the spouts are differentiated by being colour coded for ready and safe identification. 
     
     
         14 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 9 , wherein the spouts are colour coded to denote different sizes or lengths. 
     
     
         15 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 9 , wherein the spouts are colour coded to denote spouts with different widths of terminal opening. 
     
     
         16 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein a range of different spouts are available with different widths of terminal opening suitable for dispensing liquids of different consistency or thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein the tip of the spout is wetted before being put repeatedly in the corner of the mouth of the person to assist to stimulate the search reflex. 
     
     
         18 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein honey or another desirable tasting food is be put on the tip of the spout before being put repeatedly in the corner of the mouth of the person to assist to stimulate the search reflex. 
     
     
         19 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein once the search reflex has been activated the tip of the spout can be introduced through the teeth of the person and placed on the tongue. 
     
     
         20 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein once the suck reflex is activated food can be introduced on to the posterior aspect of the tongue in a controlled way. 
     
     
         21 . The geriatric feeding cup of  claim 1 , wherein use of the search reflex, suck reflex and swallow reflex enables an elderly patient to feed easily and safely with optimal airway protection in place.