The doctor gave me several packets of the Nestle/Resource Thicken Up Clear and it seems like a good product, but expensive. We would have to use 16 packets a day or 16 scoops from the can. If my math is correct, the 4.4 oz can would last about 5 1/2 days at about $12-$13 a can. So that's about $68 per month.
I've heard that Thick It is ok, but separates and leaves chunks at the bottom. I also heard it doesn't hold up in the refrigerator.
I don't really know much about other products. I would love suggestions. My grandma is suppose to thicken her beverages to nectar like consistency. I usually give her Crystal Light drinks, V8, V8 Splash, and Propel (it's like Gatorade).
Experiment a little to discover the optimal thickness for your grandmother, she may be fine with a slightly looser texture. To cut down on costs rely more on beverages that are already somewhat thick, the V8 is good and commercial or homemade smoothies need less additional thickener. My mom's nursing home routinely thickened soups with thicken up but it is easy to add a little flour or cornstarch or simply puree them to the proper consistency.
The Resource thickenup seemed to cause loose stools FYI.
I never had a problem with it separating As long as I mixed it properly I did not have problems with lumps
But...
If she is eating from a spoon or sipping a glass and saliva gets into the drink or food, and it will the saliva will begin to break down the thickening power of whatever product you use.
AND
You can not add Miralax or other like product to a thickened food. The Mirilax prevents the thickening as it draws moisture.
The best thing you can do is to thicken foods with vegetables or reducing liquid. So soups, stews, casseroles are all easy to do. It is the liquids water, coffee, tea, soda, juice, ice cream that that you can not add Mirialx to.
I suggest that you only mix up what will be used at that sitting. It does not take long to stir in and it dissolves fast so she will not be kept waiting long.
I used Thick-it with my DH and it worked great. I tried Thick-it 2 but it wasn't worth the extra $$, IMHO.
For soda, the only thing that worked was Hormel Thick and Easy. DH only needed Nectar but I bought the Honey and one packet was enough for a 16 oz bottle of soda. He preferred the bottles so he didn't have to drink all at once. The soda never lost it's 'fizz' using the Hormel Thick and Easy, Honey consistency. I did feel stupid shaking up his soda though 😏 😂
Do you have a Blender Bottle (shake-it-up bottle)? I had no trouble with using the Thick It - no lumps. Mostly I used it in his hot drinks; coffee and hot chocolate and it dissolved easily enough.
You'll find that you'll use thickeners a lot. You can use up to 4 spoons to thicken a single 4 oz drink.
Some drinks like Carnation Instant, Boost, Ensure, or Glucerna are better thickened using the SimplyThick gel. I didn't have much luck using powder with those supplement drinks.
Worked great :)