Featuring:
Diane Wolff, Author of Cooking for Dysphagia
and
Karen Sheffler, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Originally Broadcast December 15th
Join us for a special conversation with swallowing specialist, Karen Sheffler, and author Diane Wolff, known for her practical and compassionate approach to dysphagia recipes and home cooking. In this session, Diane and Karen will share insights from their work supporting caregivers and families as they adapt everyday meals for safe and enjoyable swallowing.
Whether you’re new to dysphagia-friendly cooking or looking to expand your skills, this webinar will guide you in transforming your home kitchen into a space that empowers confidence, safety, and creativity.
During this webinar, you’ll learn:
- The essential tools and equipment for a dysphagia-friendly kitchen
- How to modify common meals to meet different texture and diet levels
- Strategies for enhancing flavor, nutrition, and presentation without compromising safety
- Tips for planning, shopping, and organizing your kitchen to simplify daily meal preparation
- Practical guidance for caregivers, patients, and healthcare providers who support meal modifications
Who should attend?
Patients, caregivers, SLPs, dietitians, and anyone seeking approachable, real-world strategies for cooking and eating with dysphagia.
Speaker: Diane Wolff is an author and caregiver advocate best known for creating the Essential Puree Library. She began this work after becoming the primary caregiver for her mother, who developed dysphagia related to dementia. Diane adapted family recipes into flavorful purees that helped her mother thrive, ultimately inspiring her to create practical, easy-to-follow resources for other families.
Her newest publication, Cooking for Dysphagia and Other Swallowing Disorders, offers simple, evidence-informed guidance for preparing safe, nutritious meals at home. Diane’s work is shaped by interviews with SLPs, dietitians, and long-term care experts, blending clinical insight with real-world caregiving experience.
The Essential Puree Library has earned multiple Caregiver Friendly Awards and recognition from Maude’s Awards for innovation in Alzheimer’s care. Through her books, Diane continues to empower caregivers and clinicians to create meals that bring safety, dignity, and enjoyment back to the table.
Speaker: Karen Sheffler, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S is a medical speech-language pathologist specializing in dysphagia for 30 years, with a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995. She has worked across the continuum of care from home health, to skilled nursing facilities, to rehabilitation centers, and now in acute care since 1999. Karen obtained her Board Certification as a Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S) in August of 2012. She is committed to life-long-learning and was awarded her 10th ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE Award) in 2024. She started SwallowStudy.com in May 2014 to create a valuable evidence-based dysphagia resource for professionals and people with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). She works to raise public awareness of dysphagia and advocates to advance the care for people with dysphagia, working with industry and organizations such as American Board of Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders (AB-SSD), Dysphagia Research Society (DRS), National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD), and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative/IDDSI (since 2014) & US IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG since 2020).
Please note: The NFOSD is a nonprofit patient advocacy organization. We do not endorse specific products, treatments, or brands. The NFOSD does not provide person-specific medical advice or treatment recommendations. This presentation is for informational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never modify your treatment plan without consulting with your healthcare team. If you need assistance identifying a swallowing disorder specialist, please contact us at info@nfosd.com.