Feeding a Resident

1. Feeding a Resident Health Science Technology Nursing J. Hodge, RN

2. Good Nutrition • Important part of a resident’s Rx. • Make mealtimes pleasant • Time for social interactions • Allows time to eat with others • Eat alone? = poor appetite • LTC-Long term care facilities-encourage eating in dining room

3. Resident confined to bed • Bedridden? • Sit down in CHAIR (Not the Bed!) to feed the resident • TALK to the resident! • Eat/Feed resident while food is hot; as soon as it arrives to floor

4. Make mealtimes pleasant • Offer bedpan or urinal or assist to BR before meals • Clear room of offensive odors • Allow resident to wash hands • Provide oral hygiene, if desired • Position resident comfortably in upright position

5. Make it pleasant • Clear overbed and position it for tray • Remove emesis basin or bed pan from view • Place these objects in bedside table. • If meals are delayed because of procedures/tests, explain this to resident!

6. Responsibilities • Check the tray carefully against resident’s name and room #. • Check diet type as ordered • Never add any food or condiment to tray with checking with manager.

7. Rehab • Allow resident to feed self whenever possible. • Assist by cutting meat, buttering bread, adding condiments on tray, opening beverages, etc. • Use bib/towel to protect clothes.

8. Blind Resident? • Visually impaired? Instruct resident what food is on tray by comparing to a clock. • Meat is at 12, beans @ 3, potatoes @ 6, etc. • Make sure all food/utensils are placed conveniently.

9. Before Feeding Resident! • Check hot foods for temperature! • How would we do that? • Test by dropping sm. amt. on wrist. • NEVER BLOW on food to COOL it!

10. Points to Observe • Alternate food by giving sips of liquids between solid foods. • Use straws for liqs. They will drink more! Diff. straw for each liquid! • Hold spoon @ right angle-feed from tip of spoon.

11. Observations • Dysphagia? No STRAWS! • Difficulty swallowing-Use product called Thick-It • This allows liquids to solidify slightly and make liqs easier to swallow. • Per MD or Dietitian orders!!!!!

12. Observations • Encourage resident to eat! • Provide a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere! • Give resident sufficient time to chew food. • Offer liquids and alternate with dessert if resident does not want to eat!

13. Recording/Documentation • Observe how much the resident ate and record on nutritional record. • What if the resident does not like certain foods? • Ask for substitute foods.

14. Record Intake and Output • Intakes must be recorded per MD’s orders-anything taken in body as intake-oral, IV, etc. • Outputs must be recorded @ times per orders-anything removed from body-urine, feces, emesis!

15. CHOKING! • Be alert for signs of choking! • Feed small quantities to prevent choking. • Allow time to chew. • Provide liquids to keep mouth moist.

16. CVA • If resident has had stroke, one side of mouth may be affected. • As you feed resident, direct food toward unaffected side. • Watch throat for swallowing. • Watch for lodged food=choking. • Be prepared for Heimlich maneuver.