By: Fae Boczko
Director of the Department of Speech-Language and Swallowing Disorders at
The New Jewish Home

 

For most of us, swallowing a meal or speaking with a loved one feels effortless. We rarely stop to consider how essential these abilities are to our independence, dignity, and quality of life – until they are suddenly impaired.

After a medical emergency or prolonged hospitalization, many older adults experience difficulty swallowing or communicating. They may drool, cough while eating, struggle to form words, or rely on feeding tubes. These changes are both physically challenging and emotionally devastating. The loss of the ability to eat safely or express oneself can feel like a loss of identity.


At The New Jewish Home’s Center for Speech, Language, and Swallowing Disorders, we believe that restoring communication and safe swallowing is about far more than rehabilitation. It is about restoring dignity.


Our state-of-the-art Center provides specialized rehabilitation for older adults affected by illness, injury, or chronic conditions that impact speech, language, and swallowing. With licensed speech-language pathologists and a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders on-site, we are able to treat even the most complex cases, including patients with tracheostomies, feeding tubes, advanced neurological conditions, and post-surgical head and neck cancers.


Swallowing is not a simple act. It requires precise coordination of muscles and nerves in the mouth, throat, and airway. When this coordination is disrupted, food or liquid can enter the lungs, leading to pneumonia and other serious complications. Our team uses advanced clinical assessment and evidence-based treatment to evaluate each patient’s swallowing physiology and design highly individualized care plans.


We focus not on what a patient has lost, but on what remains. By identifying strengths and building on them step by step, we help patients regain function safely and confidently. Recovery is rarely linear. It requires patience, persistence, and trust between the patient and care team. But even small gains – a clearer word, a safer sip of water, a first bite of food – can represent enormous milestones.


One patient who came to us after a severe stroke had been told he might never swallow again. He was dependent on a feeding tube and felt stuck. Through careful evaluation, targeted therapy, and steady encouragement, he gradually regained the ability to eat by mouth. The day he shared a meal with his family again was about much more than nutrition. It was about reclaiming independence and self-worth.


Another cornerstone of our work is tracheostomy weaning. Many medically complex older adults arrive with tracheostomies that affect both speech and swallowing. We have developed a coordinated trach-weaning approach that brings together physicians, nurses, and speech-language pathologists to assess each patient’s physiology, motivation, and readiness.


By working as a unified team and tailoring care to the individual, we have successfully helped numerous patients regain their voices, breathe more independently, and reconnect with those around them.

At its heart, speech-language pathology is about connection. It is about helping someone call their daughter by name. It is about enjoying a favorite meal without fear of choking. It is about restoring the basic human experiences that make life rich and meaningful.


At The New Jewish Home, we are proud to provide advanced, evidence-based care grounded in respect, teamwork, and compassion.


For more information or to schedule a tour, contact us at:
(212) 870-4715 or ManhattanSNF@JewishHome.org.

The New Jewish Home
120 West 106th Street
New York, New York 10025
JewishHome.org