[Dysphagia] shock blocks

[dysphagiadude at mailcan.com (dysphagiadude@mailcan.com)]

I work in a SNF where we are about to discharge an 87 year old Parkinson's patient to home.  His hx includes 3 bouts of "aspiration pneumonia" in the past year or so.  Clinically, he does not present with unmanageable oropharyngeal problems; a chin down position while he takes small sips of thin liquids through a straw seems to be enough to keep liquids from falling over the base of his tongue while he waits for his swallow to trigger.  He has independently ID'd his own techniques to manage chewables.  An MBS also failed to show any unmanageable airway protection deficits.  An esophagram could not be performed given the position and small sip requirements needed to swallow thins.  His profile suggests that any aspiration pneumonia in the past was related to esophageal(or lower)problems.
He has a hospital bed at home, but it is only big enough for him, and he wants to sleep with his honeybun.  The king size bed he wants to sleep in has wheels on it.  I'd like to recommend shock blocks under the head-end feet of the bed.
How have others handled this?  Do the wheels need to come off, or can they merely be locked?  What have people used to prop up the head-end of the bed?  Can cinder blocks do the trick?  Are shock blocks commercially available?  Do I need to somehow prepare the foot-end legs of the bed to prevent them from moving?  Can anyone suggest any "heads up" that need to be addressed or explored before the discharge?
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